Agricultural Trade Policy in Indonesia and Its Impact on Indonesian Economy

We were delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Amzul Rifin—an IUJ (IDP 2005) graduate, currently working at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo and a Professor in the Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics and Management, IPB University, Indonesia—as a guest speaker at the IRI Special Seminar, where he delivered a talk on the theme ‘Agricultural Trade Policy in Indonesia and Its Impact on the Indonesian Economy’.

He focused on the export tax imposed on palm oil and cocoa beans. While these plantation products are key export commodities for Indonesia, they are often exported in raw form with lower value. The policy aims to promote downstream processing and increase domestic value addition. The talk examined how the export tax has influenced export patterns, reduced export competitiveness, and affected farmers’ incomes, particularly by comparing the impacts on palm oil and cocoa. The seminar concluded with policy recommendations to mitigate the negative effects of the export tax and support sustainable agricultural development.

After the Special Seminar, we held a social gathering where participants enjoyed conversations with Dr. Amzul and other participants while savoring Indonesian cuisine. We appreciate the warm hospitality of our Indonesian students and thank everyone who attended!