Indonesia: Minister of Trade releases prime exports of areca nut from Lampung to Saudi Arabia

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDARLAMPUNG -- Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan released the first export of areca nut commodities from Lampung Province to Saudi Arabia with a value of more than IDR 542 million. "These areca nuts are a native commodity produced in Sumatra, because there are a lot of areca palm trees here and it's currently harvest season," said Zulkifli Hasan in Bandarlampung, Monday (30/10/2023). He said that this time his party had facilitated the export of areca nut commodities from Lampung Province to Saudi Arabia. "Our biggest export destination for areca nut is actually India, but they charge too high a tax and the price is not appropriate. The tax is around 115 percent so it is impossible for us to sell it to India because it is too expensive," he said. He continued, therefore Lampung farmers are trying to find other potential recipient markets for areca nut commodities, one of which is Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia is a new export location that farmers can ...