Trade Minister Zulhas Will Close Rice Imports At The End Of January 2023

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan (center) visited the Bunga Sari Teragu Flour Factory with the Governor of NTB Zulkieflimansyah (right), and the Head of Badanas Arief Prasetyo Adi (left)/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) emphasized that his party will close the faucet on rice imports no later than the end of January 2023. The reason, said Zulhas, is that Indonesia will soon enter the main harvest season in February.

"January end rice, it's no longer allowed. January. I can't anymore, I will give permission until January. After that, I can't anymore," he said in Cilegon, Banten, Sunday, January 15.

Regarding the second phase of Bulog imported rice as much as 300,000 tons which is planned to enter in early February 2023, Zulhas admitted that he did not want to say anything and would still close the import tap.

According to Zulhas, there is no reason whatsoever to enter imported rice after the permit is closed. Zulhas said, when it enters the main harvest season, it must absorb rice in the country.

"Yes, blame yourself, please. We buy farmers, it's already harvested. Buy a lot of new farmers after that we operate the market," said Zulhas.

As is known, Bulog received an assignment to import 500,000 tons of rice from several countries. Such as Pakistan, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.

In the first phase, Bulog plans to bring in 200,000 tons of imported rice. However, until now only about 120,000 tons have entered Indonesia and it is estimated that it will reach all of them by the end of January 2023.

Meanwhile, for the second phase as much as 300,000 tons will enter in early February. The plan is to enter 15,000 tons from Vietnam in early February and gradually enter until February 28. Previously, the Director of Supply Chain and Public Services, Perum Bulog Mokhamad Suyamto, said that the delivery of imported rice for the second phase would be parallel with the third stage. "So in the third week of February we were in a lot of density. The remaining phase one and stage two began arriving until February 28," he said, met at the Bulog Warehouse, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Friday, January 13.

Suyamto explained that Bulog did not send imported rice at once 300,000 tons in this second stage. This is because it takes time from delivery to demolition.

It takes time for the demolition in Priok, in Merak it can't be done all at once. This means that we have to adjust the rhythm. Because if it accumulates in the loading and unloading here, it's anti-cost high. So we are waiting. Regulate the partnership so that everything runs smoothly," he explained.