1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,259 Speaker 1: This is a C. N. A. Podcast. 2 00:00:11,539 --> 00:00:15,450 Speaker 1: You've probably noticed it's getting more expensive to fill your plate, 3 00:00:15,470 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: blame food inflation. Thinking about it makes my stomach turn 4 00:00:19,290 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: maybe yours too. 5 00:00:20,940 --> 00:00:24,299 Speaker 1: Every visit to the supermarket means you're getting less for 6 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:28,420 Speaker 1: your money. Hello and welcome to CNN correspondent. This is 7 00:00:28,420 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: the podcast where our network of correspondents shine a light 8 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,370 Speaker 1: on stories from wherever they are in the world, bringing 9 00:00:34,370 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: you behind and beyond the headlines 10 00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:43,300 Speaker 1: on today's edition. We head to Indonesia and Thailand to 11 00:00:43,300 --> 00:00:46,260 Speaker 1: talk instant noodles. 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,300 Speaker 1: Alright, here's a fun fact for you. Did you know 13 00:00:50,310 --> 00:00:54,380 Speaker 1: after China? Indonesia is the world's top consumer of the 14 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: convenient carb and Thailand regularly makes it to the top 15 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,150 Speaker 1: 10 list as well. 16 00:00:59,540 --> 00:01:01,980 Speaker 1: So why the love affair and why should we measure 17 00:01:01,980 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: food inflation against instant noodles 18 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,300 Speaker 1: joining me from Jakarta is our correspondent. Saiful Bahri Ismail 19 00:01:08,430 --> 00:01:11,710 Speaker 1: and socks, etc. Samba is in Bangkok. Hi guys, nice 20 00:01:11,709 --> 00:01:13,350 Speaker 1: to have you on. Hi, Teresa. 21 00:01:13,940 --> 00:01:15,710 Speaker 1: Well, I'm sure both of you had a hand in 22 00:01:15,709 --> 00:01:20,340 Speaker 1: getting your country's onto that top 10 list. Saiful in Indonesia. 23 00:01:20,350 --> 00:01:23,380 Speaker 1: Is it a staple in every household pantry. Is it 24 00:01:23,380 --> 00:01:25,060 Speaker 1: in your Jakarta pantry as well? 25 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: Well, Teresa, it is you know, I always keep a 26 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,750 Speaker 1: few packets of instant noodles in the kitchen just in 27 00:01:31,750 --> 00:01:34,830 Speaker 1: case if I'm feeling really hungry at night and I 28 00:01:34,830 --> 00:01:37,510 Speaker 1: need a quick fix so I can cook myself a 29 00:01:37,510 --> 00:01:40,630 Speaker 1: packet of instant noodles or maybe two, depending on how 30 00:01:40,630 --> 00:01:43,510 Speaker 1: hungry I am now with instant noodles. It's just the 31 00:01:43,510 --> 00:01:45,660 Speaker 1: convenience of preparing it. I guess 32 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:48,190 Speaker 1: I must admit that I don't cook. I don't know 33 00:01:48,190 --> 00:01:48,950 Speaker 1: how to cook 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 1: and instant noodles are just an instant solution to relieve 35 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,370 Speaker 1: my hunger pangs. Now. I still remember when I was 36 00:01:54,370 --> 00:01:57,020 Speaker 1: a young boy growing up in Singapore. The first instant 37 00:01:57,020 --> 00:01:59,670 Speaker 1: noodles I ate was Maggie me. Now. That brand of 38 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,570 Speaker 1: instant noodles is synonymous with its bright yellow packaging and 39 00:02:03,580 --> 00:02:06,850 Speaker 1: in Indonesia, the most common brand of instant noodles is 40 00:02:06,860 --> 00:02:07,660 Speaker 1: Indo me. 41 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:11,250 Speaker 1: There are over 30 flavors of Indo Mie instant noodles. 42 00:02:11,340 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: They include a hot and spicy barbecue and salt and 43 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,859 Speaker 1: my favorite flavor is curry. You can never go wrong 44 00:02:16,860 --> 00:02:20,540 Speaker 1: with curry socks if I saw you raise your eyebrows 45 00:02:20,540 --> 00:02:23,820 Speaker 1: when Saiful mentioned Maggie me there. The love affair with 46 00:02:23,820 --> 00:02:27,549 Speaker 1: the instant noodle is just as passionate in Thailand and 47 00:02:27,550 --> 00:02:30,660 Speaker 1: I know there's a shop called Good noodle that houses 48 00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 1: Some 350 different noodle products. The walls completely plastered with 49 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,770 Speaker 1: the small packages. What was a visit to that shop. Like, 50 00:02:39,060 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: I haven't seen anything like that either. And you know, 51 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,690 Speaker 2: for somebody who was actually trying to cut down on cops, 52 00:02:43,690 --> 00:02:46,579 Speaker 2: The story was probably came at the worst time. But 53 00:02:46,580 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: for this story, we noticed this shop that has been 54 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:50,450 Speaker 2: open since 55 00:02:50,650 --> 00:02:53,230 Speaker 2: late last year, a place called Good Noodle, which is 56 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:54,950 Speaker 2: in a mall here in Bangkok. 57 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,169 Speaker 2: During lockdown, the owner became interested in instant noodles and 58 00:02:59,169 --> 00:03:02,330 Speaker 2: that's why he was researching to see how many incidents 59 00:03:02,330 --> 00:03:04,740 Speaker 2: are actually out there. And over a couple of weeks, 60 00:03:04,740 --> 00:03:06,990 Speaker 2: a couple of months he saw that there were hundreds 61 00:03:06,990 --> 00:03:10,769 Speaker 2: of them, 350 instant noodles from all over Asia, being 62 00:03:10,770 --> 00:03:15,130 Speaker 2: Thailand from Indonesia, from Japan and other places in Asia. 63 00:03:15,130 --> 00:03:17,300 Speaker 2: And so that's why he had a couple of other 64 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:20,370 Speaker 2: business partners came up with a shop to sell these 65 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: places and we're going to hear from the owner, Mr 66 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,980 Speaker 2: Duncan and he's going to explain what part institutions play 67 00:03:27,980 --> 00:03:29,060 Speaker 2: entire culture, 68 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,890 Speaker 1: instant noodles are, something that have been around in thai 69 00:03:35,890 --> 00:03:37,460 Speaker 1: society for a long time. 70 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: So much so that people are saying that it has 71 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:47,270 Speaker 1: become a friend shortly before payday. It's something that everyone 72 00:03:47,270 --> 00:03:50,700 Speaker 1: has at home. It's part of our culture for 50 73 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:53,350 Speaker 1: years now, 74 00:03:54,940 --> 00:03:57,950 Speaker 1: instant noodles not only eaten at home, but in your 75 00:03:57,950 --> 00:04:01,550 Speaker 1: story saiful. You stop at a roadside eatery in Jakarta 76 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,660 Speaker 1: that actually serves instant noodles. How common are these? I've 77 00:04:04,660 --> 00:04:07,950 Speaker 1: never seen these before. No, no, you can find instant 78 00:04:07,950 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: noodles also being sold 79 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: outside by the roadside shop and stuff like that. Now 80 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,050 Speaker 1: these eateries are very common in Indonesia. 81 00:04:15,140 --> 00:04:17,350 Speaker 1: Now the three that I went to when I was 82 00:04:17,350 --> 00:04:20,420 Speaker 1: doing this story in South Jakarta is called a white cop. 83 00:04:20,430 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: Indonesians just love abbreviations, you know, they love to shorten words. 84 00:04:23,810 --> 00:04:28,890 Speaker 1: So in bahasa Indonesia is short for copy or coffee shop. 85 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:31,340 Speaker 1: It's a place where friends hang out of place you 86 00:04:31,339 --> 00:04:33,460 Speaker 1: visit if you need to grab a cheap quick bite 87 00:04:33,540 --> 00:04:35,980 Speaker 1: now at a world cup, you can find a variety 88 00:04:35,980 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 1: of instant coffee. Those three in one coffee sessions and 89 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,290 Speaker 1: simple food like instant noodles. Now I spoke with a 90 00:04:43,290 --> 00:04:45,690 Speaker 1: goose mulyadi who is the owner of the coffee shop. 91 00:04:45,690 --> 00:04:49,789 Speaker 1: He's originally from Tasikmalaya, which is a regency in west 92 00:04:49,790 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: java and he moved to Jakarta more than 20 years 93 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,780 Speaker 1: ago to find employment and in search of a better 94 00:04:54,779 --> 00:04:57,580 Speaker 1: life in the capital. Now, eight years ago august opened 95 00:04:57,580 --> 00:05:00,029 Speaker 1: the coffee shop and he told me that life hasn't 96 00:05:00,029 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: been easy in recent years, especially in the past two 97 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,110 Speaker 1: years because of Covid 19 people don't go out to 98 00:05:06,110 --> 00:05:09,230 Speaker 1: eat as often as they used to. However, the pandemic 99 00:05:09,230 --> 00:05:11,900 Speaker 1: is not as bad now as it was about a 100 00:05:11,900 --> 00:05:14,770 Speaker 1: year ago, many restrictions have been lifted and people are 101 00:05:14,770 --> 00:05:18,540 Speaker 1: getting a sense of normalcy here. But when war broke 102 00:05:18,540 --> 00:05:20,060 Speaker 1: out between Russia and Ukraine, 103 00:05:20,140 --> 00:05:23,860 Speaker 1: that has caused food prices to go up, including instant noodles. 104 00:05:24,339 --> 00:05:27,170 Speaker 1: The price of the staple has gone up though, partly 105 00:05:27,170 --> 00:05:29,460 Speaker 1: as you say, because of the war in Ukraine and 106 00:05:29,460 --> 00:05:32,370 Speaker 1: the conflict hampering the export of wheat, which is the 107 00:05:32,370 --> 00:05:36,940 Speaker 1: raw material for instant noodles. How much have prices changed succeed? 108 00:05:36,940 --> 00:05:37,750 Speaker 1: Let's start with you? 109 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,750 Speaker 2: Well, when it comes to instant noodles actually, it's interestingly 110 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: the prices have stayed the same. It's currently still six 111 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,890 Speaker 2: part for a pack of instant noodles, it's about 17 112 00:05:47,890 --> 00:05:51,460 Speaker 2: US cents, but the manufacturers have been feeling the pinch 113 00:05:51,470 --> 00:05:54,670 Speaker 2: for quite some time now. They have been saying for 114 00:05:54,670 --> 00:05:56,860 Speaker 2: a couple of months now that the profit margin 115 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: is shrinking and that they may have to bump up 116 00:05:58,960 --> 00:05:59,470 Speaker 2: the price 117 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:04,540 Speaker 2: by one. But and overall yes you do definitely feel 118 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:07,030 Speaker 2: the pinch right now, but not so much in when 119 00:06:07,029 --> 00:06:09,750 Speaker 2: it comes to food, but for oil prices and other 120 00:06:09,750 --> 00:06:13,060 Speaker 2: stuff like that. But incidents are definitely a huge factor 121 00:06:13,060 --> 00:06:15,609 Speaker 2: and probably in my opinion one of the most visible 122 00:06:15,610 --> 00:06:18,020 Speaker 2: factors here in Thailand as well. I'm even going to 123 00:06:18,020 --> 00:06:18,859 Speaker 2: so far that, 124 00:06:18,940 --> 00:06:21,730 Speaker 2: you know, incidentally in Thailand is a better economic indicator 125 00:06:21,730 --> 00:06:22,450 Speaker 2: than the Big Mac. 126 00:06:22,940 --> 00:06:26,490 Speaker 1: Yes indeed. Reserve price of instant noodles has in fact 127 00:06:26,490 --> 00:06:29,300 Speaker 1: gone up by more than 20% since more than two 128 00:06:29,300 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: months ago. Now uses the instant noodle seller that I 129 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,290 Speaker 1: spoke earlier told me that he had no choice but 130 00:06:36,300 --> 00:06:38,550 Speaker 1: to pass on the higher cost of instant noodles to 131 00:06:38,550 --> 00:06:41,900 Speaker 1: his customers. Now, a bowl of instant noodles usually costs 132 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:46,180 Speaker 1: around 6000 rupiah, that's about 40 us cents. Now it 133 00:06:46,180 --> 00:06:50,250 Speaker 1: costs 10,000 rupiah or about 66 U. S. Cents. Now, 134 00:06:50,250 --> 00:06:52,620 Speaker 1: if you add an egg to your instant noodles that 135 00:06:52,620 --> 00:06:56,690 Speaker 1: will cost 13,000 rupiah or about 86 U. S. Cents. 136 00:06:56,690 --> 00:07:00,860 Speaker 1: Now these increments may look small but to many ordinary 137 00:07:00,940 --> 00:07:05,010 Speaker 1: Indonesians who are unemployed or who earn just minimum wages, 138 00:07:05,010 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: it could be hard on them. 139 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,099 Speaker 1: Now. The minimum wage in Jakarta for example is about 140 00:07:09,110 --> 00:07:14,410 Speaker 1: 4.6 million rupiah, that's about $300 a month. So Indonesians 141 00:07:14,410 --> 00:07:17,390 Speaker 1: have been hit by the higher food prices cost in 142 00:07:17,390 --> 00:07:20,140 Speaker 1: part by the war. Of course there are other factors 143 00:07:20,140 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: contributing to higher food prices, 144 00:07:22,140 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: like unfavorable weather conditions that affect the harvest of various commodities. 145 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: The higher food prices have pushed up inflation as well 146 00:07:30,530 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: in June last month, the inflation rate in Indonesia was 4.3, 147 00:07:35,390 --> 00:07:37,750 Speaker 1: that's the highest since 2017. 148 00:07:38,340 --> 00:07:40,780 Speaker 1: I know a lot of stories you just cover and 149 00:07:40,790 --> 00:07:44,490 Speaker 1: watch from an outside perspective, but this story actually may 150 00:07:44,490 --> 00:07:48,150 Speaker 1: impact you directly because we're looking at products we use 151 00:07:48,150 --> 00:07:51,060 Speaker 1: every day, sucks it and Saiful. Are you cooking more 152 00:07:51,060 --> 00:07:53,550 Speaker 1: at home? Do you guys buy generic brands 153 00:07:53,940 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: have been home cooking a lot anyway, so the, regardless 154 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 2: of that, especially during Covid working from home and we 155 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,410 Speaker 2: had the chance to cook at home more often, there 156 00:08:02,410 --> 00:08:05,330 Speaker 2: has definitely been a noticeable price increase for a lot 157 00:08:05,330 --> 00:08:07,930 Speaker 2: of materials even before the Ukraine war. You had this 158 00:08:07,930 --> 00:08:11,300 Speaker 2: talk about pork prices for example going up and also 159 00:08:11,300 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 2: other commodities and daily essentials 160 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: are going up as well. One point that I personally 161 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:17,860 Speaker 2: don't feel that, but a lot of people 162 00:08:17,940 --> 00:08:21,110 Speaker 2: In Bangkok of feeling there's also fuel prices, energy, gas prices, 163 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: they are going up here as well. So Thailand and 164 00:08:24,090 --> 00:08:27,110 Speaker 2: everybody else is coming out of the pandemic, governments are 165 00:08:27,110 --> 00:08:30,930 Speaker 2: trying to encourage people to spend more money to bump 166 00:08:30,930 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 2: up consummation and spending and then you hitting with the inflation, everything, 167 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,980 Speaker 2: you know prices have gone up for food 6.5% since 168 00:08:38,980 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 2: last year. So 169 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,590 Speaker 2: it comes probably at the worst time when the economy 170 00:08:42,590 --> 00:08:45,690 Speaker 2: is trying to recover. But then prices are going up 171 00:08:45,690 --> 00:08:48,510 Speaker 2: so basically there's less money to spend for people to 172 00:08:48,510 --> 00:08:51,540 Speaker 2: go around. As for me personally, there's still going to 173 00:08:51,540 --> 00:08:53,209 Speaker 2: be cooking at home a lot more often. 174 00:08:53,220 --> 00:08:55,660 Speaker 1: Well you gotta teach me how to cook man, 175 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,160 Speaker 1: I don't cook at home because I can't but maybe 176 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,910 Speaker 1: that's just an excuse. The truth is I'm too lazy 177 00:09:01,910 --> 00:09:03,770 Speaker 1: to learn anybody 178 00:09:03,770 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 2: else. 179 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,870 Speaker 1: Well my late mother was a great cook I must say. 180 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,270 Speaker 1: But seriously it's more for practical reasons, you know I 181 00:09:12,270 --> 00:09:14,740 Speaker 1: live alone in Jakarta, so it's just more convenient for 182 00:09:14,740 --> 00:09:17,450 Speaker 1: me to just order food delivery. So I avoid the 183 00:09:17,450 --> 00:09:20,140 Speaker 1: hassle of going to the supermarket to buy the various 184 00:09:20,140 --> 00:09:22,660 Speaker 1: ingredients to cook and of course you spend time cooking 185 00:09:22,660 --> 00:09:24,250 Speaker 1: and then cleaning up after that. 186 00:09:24,340 --> 00:09:27,679 Speaker 1: But yes, I am price conscious at the present moment 187 00:09:27,690 --> 00:09:29,820 Speaker 1: and try to save as much as I can. I 188 00:09:29,820 --> 00:09:33,210 Speaker 1: try to cut down on going out to eat at restaurants, 189 00:09:33,220 --> 00:09:35,500 Speaker 1: going out to the restaurants and depending on what I 190 00:09:35,500 --> 00:09:38,750 Speaker 1: eat can set me back to at least 100,000 rupiah 191 00:09:38,750 --> 00:09:42,330 Speaker 1: that's about $7. But the good thing about Indonesia is 192 00:09:42,330 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: the fact that there are a variety of food options 193 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,689 Speaker 1: available And I believe also in Thailand right, if I 194 00:09:47,690 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: want to go out and I don't have to go 195 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: to a restaurant to have a meal. There are many 196 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,890 Speaker 1: street vendors who sell all kinds of food and you 197 00:09:53,900 --> 00:09:56,860 Speaker 1: can always find a street vendor with the food cart near, 198 00:09:56,860 --> 00:09:58,559 Speaker 1: you know, for example, yesterday 199 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,630 Speaker 1: I bought gado gado for lunch from a street vendor 200 00:10:01,630 --> 00:10:04,810 Speaker 1: near the office. Now gado gado is an Indonesian salad 201 00:10:04,820 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: mixture of slightly boiled vegetables, hard boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, 202 00:10:09,490 --> 00:10:13,709 Speaker 1: fried tofu and tempeh served with a peanut sauce dressing. 203 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: The gado gado was so yummy, so filling and the 204 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 1: best part, guess what? 205 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:22,059 Speaker 1: It only costs 15,000 rupiah. That's about $1 us. 206 00:10:23,150 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: Take a listen now to addie Lukman, he's chairman of 207 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,199 Speaker 1: the Indonesian Food and beverage Producers Association and he doesn't 208 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,429 Speaker 1: seem all that bothered by the higher costs for now 209 00:10:33,429 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: at least 210 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: I'm not too worried about the food stock this year. 211 00:10:39,590 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: This is because crops were sown last year and harvested 212 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: this year. But if this war is prolonged, it will 213 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,859 Speaker 1: be difficult to sow new crops and next year will 214 00:10:48,860 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: be more dangerous not only in terms of high prices 215 00:10:52,050 --> 00:10:55,069 Speaker 1: but also availability of the commodity. 216 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,569 Speaker 1: How worried are everyday Indonesians Saiful. Especially if the war 217 00:11:01,570 --> 00:11:02,310 Speaker 1: drags on. 218 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,349 Speaker 1: Well the reason of course people our it the pandemic 219 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: is not over yet. In fact, Covid 19 cases have increased, 220 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:13,330 Speaker 1: fueled by the omicron sub variance and now people have 221 00:11:13,330 --> 00:11:15,459 Speaker 1: to deal with the effects of the war even when 222 00:11:15,460 --> 00:11:18,250 Speaker 1: it's happening thousands of kilometers away. 223 00:11:18,340 --> 00:11:21,940 Speaker 1: People have seen what happened to Sri Lanka a country 224 00:11:21,940 --> 00:11:24,990 Speaker 1: which is in crisis and most recently in Italy now 225 00:11:24,990 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: are Indonesians worried what happened in Sri Lanka could happen here. 226 00:11:28,090 --> 00:11:31,059 Speaker 1: I would say no because Indonesia is not Sri Lanka, 227 00:11:31,070 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 1: there is a stable government here which is doing all 228 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,429 Speaker 1: it can to help cushion the impact of higher food 229 00:11:36,429 --> 00:11:39,830 Speaker 1: and energy prices which has skyrocketed as a result of 230 00:11:39,830 --> 00:11:40,750 Speaker 1: the Ukraine war. 231 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,890 Speaker 1: Just last week state owned oil and gas company Pertamina 232 00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:49,959 Speaker 1: increased the price of several non subsidized fuel brands. However, 233 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:53,650 Speaker 1: the government has chosen to maintain subsidies for fuel with 234 00:11:53,660 --> 00:11:58,229 Speaker 1: lower octane levels. Indonesia has chosen to carefully adjust to 235 00:11:58,230 --> 00:12:01,780 Speaker 1: the global trend of rising fuel prices by shielding its 236 00:12:01,780 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 1: economy from uncontrolled inflation. 237 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:06,630 Speaker 1: All right, we're going to talk about that a bit more. 238 00:12:06,630 --> 00:12:09,929 Speaker 1: Coming up next stay with us on CNN correspondent as 239 00:12:09,929 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: we cover what people and governments are doing to keep 240 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,150 Speaker 1: food affordable. 241 00:12:16,340 --> 00:12:17,150 Speaker 1: Mhm 242 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:23,300 Speaker 1: Hi, my name is Sarah al Khaldi and I'm the 243 00:12:23,300 --> 00:12:26,580 Speaker 1: host of a new podcast called Money talks. Yes, we 244 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:29,179 Speaker 1: will be talking about money, but more than that, we'll 245 00:12:29,179 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: also be talking about life, personal choices, lucky breaks and 246 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,510 Speaker 1: how money is the thread running through it all. So 247 00:12:36,510 --> 00:12:39,550 Speaker 1: look out for our episodes wherever you get your podcasts. 248 00:12:44,740 --> 00:12:45,250 Speaker 1: Mhm 249 00:12:47,340 --> 00:12:50,350 Speaker 1: We're back on CNN correspondent with Saiful Bahri Ismail in 250 00:12:50,350 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: Jakarta and succeed in Bangkok. 251 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,309 Speaker 1: You know, guys to save money on petrol. People might 252 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: say not drive their cars as much and take public transit, 253 00:12:59,650 --> 00:13:03,020 Speaker 1: but when it comes to food buying less actually means 254 00:13:03,030 --> 00:13:06,270 Speaker 1: there are some people who are going to bed hungry, Saiful, 255 00:13:06,270 --> 00:13:07,949 Speaker 1: How are Indonesians coping? 256 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,510 Speaker 1: You know, Teresa Indonesians are coping as best as they 257 00:13:11,510 --> 00:13:15,350 Speaker 1: can do to this rising inflation. The poverty rate in 258 00:13:15,350 --> 00:13:20,620 Speaker 1: Indonesia has increased by nearly 4%. Anyone earning below 500,000 259 00:13:20,620 --> 00:13:23,350 Speaker 1: rupiah or $33 a month 260 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,060 Speaker 1: Is considered to be unable to meet their basic needs 261 00:13:26,059 --> 00:13:28,220 Speaker 1: and is defined as poor. Now there are more than 262 00:13:28,220 --> 00:13:30,850 Speaker 1: 26 million poor people in Indonesia. 263 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: Despite these Indonesians are resilient people and they can be 264 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,150 Speaker 1: thankful that they have a government who wants to help 265 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:43,620 Speaker 1: authorities said they will increase social assistance to 431 trillion rupiah. 266 00:13:43,620 --> 00:13:47,530 Speaker 1: That's nearly 29 billion U. S. Dollars to christian people 267 00:13:47,530 --> 00:13:50,660 Speaker 1: from the inflationary impact of food and energy prices. 268 00:13:50,740 --> 00:13:53,479 Speaker 1: There is a cash assistance program for the poor. There 269 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 1: is also the new pre employment scheme that 270 00:13:56,640 --> 00:14:00,040 Speaker 1: provides vocational training not only for young people seeking jobs 271 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,270 Speaker 1: but also those who have been laid off. Now, you 272 00:14:02,270 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: may ask how will the government finance all this big 273 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,500 Speaker 1: spending on the social safety net and subsidies. Now the 274 00:14:08,500 --> 00:14:10,260 Speaker 1: government has been lucky 275 00:14:10,540 --> 00:14:14,990 Speaker 1: Indonesia has managed to reap the windfall from the commodity boom, 276 00:14:14,990 --> 00:14:18,250 Speaker 1: especially coal, palm oil and several other minerals, 277 00:14:18,340 --> 00:14:21,500 Speaker 1: which would likely to continue to increase the state revenues. 278 00:14:21,510 --> 00:14:25,130 Speaker 1: Lots of action in Indonesia. And the thai government has 279 00:14:25,130 --> 00:14:28,380 Speaker 1: stepped in as well to make sure instant noodles remain affordable. 280 00:14:28,380 --> 00:14:30,690 Speaker 1: Haven't they? Have they done this before? 281 00:14:30,740 --> 00:14:33,950 Speaker 2: Yes, indeed. They have done this before. The Commerce Ministry 282 00:14:33,950 --> 00:14:37,230 Speaker 2: actually has a running list of items where they're trying 283 00:14:37,230 --> 00:14:40,170 Speaker 2: to keep the prices stable and incidents have been on 284 00:14:40,170 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 2: this list ever since the beginning of time. So that's 285 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 2: why this push and pull between the manufacturers and the 286 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,930 Speaker 2: government has been very fascinating to see that the manufacturers 287 00:14:48,940 --> 00:14:51,210 Speaker 2: have been saying that we need to raise the prices 288 00:14:51,210 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 2: to send by the government, especially this year has many 289 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,130 Speaker 2: times said no, the prices stay the same. It's going 290 00:14:57,130 --> 00:14:58,860 Speaker 2: to be six parts and that's it. 291 00:14:58,940 --> 00:15:02,450 Speaker 2: But the question is basically what I've been asking economists 292 00:15:02,450 --> 00:15:03,050 Speaker 2: and 293 00:15:03,140 --> 00:15:05,150 Speaker 2: people from the government side is that how long can 294 00:15:05,150 --> 00:15:07,580 Speaker 2: you keep this up in the long run? It is 295 00:15:07,580 --> 00:15:10,970 Speaker 2: probably not sustainable, like any subsidy scheme is probably not 296 00:15:10,970 --> 00:15:15,410 Speaker 2: going to be sustainable whatsoever. Fun fact in that list, also, 297 00:15:15,420 --> 00:15:18,090 Speaker 2: there are a lot of other items, you have pork, 298 00:15:18,090 --> 00:15:20,500 Speaker 2: you have flour, you have oil, you have eggs, but 299 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: then you also have non food stuff like 300 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,830 Speaker 2: cement other stuff as well. I remember at the beginning 301 00:15:25,830 --> 00:15:28,470 Speaker 2: of the pandemic that surgical masks were also put on 302 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:30,730 Speaker 2: that list as well because there was a high demand. 303 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 2: So you're seeing that the thai government is trying to 304 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,310 Speaker 2: ensure that people are not being stung by price hikes 305 00:15:37,310 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 2: or price surges. But the question still remains that that 306 00:15:40,810 --> 00:15:42,660 Speaker 2: is that a long term solution 307 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,900 Speaker 2: or do they have other solutions to help people in 308 00:15:45,900 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: long run? Yeah. 309 00:15:46,930 --> 00:15:49,790 Speaker 1: No end to this story just yet and it's amazing. 310 00:15:49,790 --> 00:15:52,770 Speaker 1: The humble instant noodle opens the door to so many 311 00:15:52,770 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: conversations about inflation about people's habits around consumption and too bad. 312 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: We're not together to eat and talk over a bowl 313 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,210 Speaker 1: of instant noodles. But one last question for you both 314 00:16:03,220 --> 00:16:04,050 Speaker 1: in one word, 315 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,790 Speaker 1: tell me your favorite addition to a bowl of instant 316 00:16:06,790 --> 00:16:07,750 Speaker 1: noodles sucks it. 317 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:14,180 Speaker 2: My addition is minced pork chili, garlic, black pepper. So 318 00:16:14,180 --> 00:16:18,590 Speaker 2: basically I like my noodles dry as a stir fry 319 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 2: and take on the thai drunken noodles. I know it's 320 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:24,660 Speaker 2: an audio podcast but I gotta pack here 321 00:16:24,940 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 2: so maybe after we're done recording I'm going to cook 322 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,450 Speaker 2: this and saiful next time you're gonna cook for you. 323 00:16:30,460 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 2: Thank 324 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:33,060 Speaker 1: you. Thank you 325 00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: and saiful. What would you add to your noodles? 326 00:16:36,140 --> 00:16:39,650 Speaker 1: Definitely ex I agree that was my answer as well. 327 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,100 Speaker 1: Alright thank you so much both for coming on to 328 00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: share about how people in Indonesia and Thailand are coping 329 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,770 Speaker 1: with the rising cost of food. 330 00:16:49,540 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: The tv version CNN correspondent airs on sienna every Wednesday 331 00:16:54,170 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: at 9:30 p.m. You can also catch up with them 332 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: whenever you like on Sienna dot asia 333 00:16:59,340 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: like and subscribe to this podcast version that takes you 334 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:05,870 Speaker 1: behind the scenes with our correspondence. Our podcast team is 335 00:17:05,869 --> 00:17:09,260 Speaker 1: made up of daniel lee, Christina robert, claire. Wrong and 336 00:17:09,260 --> 00:17:11,670 Speaker 1: me Teresa tang. Thank you very much for listening. 337 00:17:13,619 --> 00:17:13,889 Speaker 1: Yeah. 338 00:17:17,140 --> 00:17:17,350 Speaker 1: Right. 339 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:18,550 Speaker 1: Mhm.