Buwas Calls 500,000 Tons Of Imported Rice Will Enter Again Later This Year

President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Director of Perum Bulog Budi Waseso revealed that 500,000 tons of imported rice will enter the country again in mid-December 2023.

The rice is part of 1.5 million tons of additional rice import quota as a government rice reserve (CBP).

Today it has contracted from 1.5 million it is 500,000 additional tons. What comes to Indonesia 500.000 tons. It is the slowest in mid-December," he said at the Bulog office, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 18.

Buwas, Budi Waseso's nickname, explained that the 500,000 tons of imported rice came from various countries.

"There are kinds of things. So that number of all (states). Anyway, I say from all state producers that are included in our calculations, the price, quality, speed, we take," he said.

Furthermore, Buwas said that with the plan to enter imported rice in mid-December 2023, the government's rice stock at the end of the year was at 1.3 million tons.

Until March it will be 1.3 million. Still 500,000, but we have an assignment of 2 million or an additional 1 million if the proposal is realized, it means that we have reserves that we do 3 million. It's safe," he said.

Previously reported, Buwas revealed that 1 million tons of imported rice from China did not necessarily enter Indonesia this year.

This is because the port's capacity is not possible.

"Yes, we can't (enter this year), not because we can't afford it. But our port doesn't allow it to be dismantled that much because the rest still need energy and unloading capacity," he said.

Moreover, continued Buwas, Indonesia does not yet have a contract with China regarding this rice import. Even so, Buwas explained that China was willing to export.

"If yesterday it was only their availability, they were willing to prepare 1 million tons of rice for Indonesia. But there is no MoU between the president and the president," he said.

Currently, continued Buwas, the government prioritizes imports from several neighboring countries first. The countries in question are Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

"Now there are Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, there are Cambodia, there are others, yes, well we are trying Pakistan, we are also trying, although we don't get it much, but we are trying," he explained.