Chief Economic Minister Monitors Goods Supplies In Cianjur

Cianjur, W Java, July 22 (Antara)- Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa paid a working visit in West Java`s Cianjur district on Sunday aimed at monitoring the supply of basic necessaries during the fasting month of Ramadhan. During the visit, Hatta, accompanied by West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan and Cianjur District Head Tjetjep Muchtar Soleh inspected a number of traditional markets and inaugurated a bazaar held at the parking lot of the Cianjur district administration office. Organized by the district administration, the bazaar sells a variety of basic necessaries, such as rice, cooking oil, vegetables, beef and fruits at affordable prices. "So far, the prices of several commodities have begun to decline. But it takes time for the price of beef to decline as imported beef has yet to enter Cianjur," Hatta said. To lower the soaring beef price in recent weeks, the government has increased beef imports by 20 thousand tons to meet rising demand during the fasting month of Ramadhan and the Muslim holiday of Lebaran, he said. "The imported beef has not entered West Java but has been sold only in Jakarta and environs. This time the government is focusing on selling beef at Rp75,000 a kg through bazaars," he said. The beef is relatively cheap, he said adding the price can hopefully be maintained so that the people can easily buy it. Beef has fetched up to Rp100 thousand a kg in several parts of the country over the past few weeks.