Proposed New Strategic Commodities in the Draft Bill

Member of the Legislative Body (Baleg) of Indonesia’s House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (“ DPR RI ”), Benny K. Harman, has proposed that the kratom plant be designated as one of the strategic commodities. This proposal is intended to be incorporated into the Draft Bill on Strategic Commodities (“ Draft Bill on Strategic Commodities ”), particularly in relation to the plantation sector.

“I would like to add several types of strategic commodities in the plantation sector, such as corn, durian, or the kratom plant, in the Draft Bill on Strategic Commodities that we are currently developing,” said Benny.

According to him, the kratom plant not only has environmental benefits but also holds significant economic value. Regarding the classification of the plant as a psychotropic substance by the National Narcotics Agency (Badan Narkotika Nasional- “ BNN ”), he stated that this matter needs to be reviewed.

Previously, the Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal- “ BKPM ”), Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, stated that the export value of kratom originating from West Kalimantan to the United States (“ US ”) reached USD 350 million. Furthermore, 96 percent of the kratom imported into the United States comes from Indonesia.