18:48:40JAKARTA - Sugar is a strategic commodity that is closely related to people's livelihoods. The demand for sugar continues to increase along with the increase in population and also the growth of the food and beverage industry in the country.
"Therefore, the national sugar industry must maintain three aspects, namely related to quality, quantity and also connectivity," said Director General of Agro Industry of the Ministry of Industry, Putu Juli Ardika in his speech representing the Minister of Industry at the National Deliberation of the Indonesian Refined Sugar Association (AGRI) VIII in Jakarta, Thursday (20/1).
The Director General of Agro Industry emphasized that the sugar produced must meet the best quality (according to SNI). In order to maintain this quality, it is necessary to use the latest technology. "Sugar productivity must continue to be increased, so that it can meet the needs of the community and industry," he said.
National sugar demand is increasing every year, because of the assumption that the growth of the food and beverage industry is projected to increase by about 5-7 percent per year and the increase in Indonesia's population growth based on BPS data which also increases by around 1.25 percent every year.
The Director General of the Agro Industry said that his party would continue to monitor the development of refined sugar factories in the country in line with the increasing need for Refined Crystal Sugar (GKR) in the domestic market, considering that the industrial sector using GKR began to thrive and national economic activity was recovering after being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. (LM)