Fulfill The Assignment Of Rice Imports, Bulog Searches For Suppliers From India

Imported rice (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has given a mandate to Perum Bulog to increase imports of 1.5 million tons of rice by the end of 2023. Currently, Bulog has pocketed a contract of 1 million tons of rice from importers in a number of countries.

Bulog Institutional Public Relations Manager, Tomi Wijaya said that from the import assignment of 1.5 million tons by the end of this year, 500,000 tons had arrived in Indonesia. Then, 500,000 tons of rice are still on the way to the country.

Furthermore, Tomi said to complete 500,000 uncontracted rice import assignments, his party is currently exploring a number of potential importers in India and other countries.

"The President Director is exploring because India is opening (exports) again, exploring there because there is potential. Pakistan also has (potency)," Tomi said in a media briefing at Perum Bulog's head office, Jakarta, Friday, December 15.

Thailand Becomes The Largest Imported Rice Supply Country

Tomi said that out of a total of 1 million tons that had been contracted, Thailand supplied the most. In fact, the number reaches 50 percent of the procurement.

"Vietnam and Pakistan are 20 percent each. The rest are from Cambodia and Myanmar," said Tomi.

Bulog seeks that 500,000 tons of imported rice that has not been contracted can be contracted by the end of this year. That way, the imported rice can arrive in Indonesia in January-February 2024.

The imported rice will be used to distribute rice aid for the January-March 2024 period to 22 million beneficiary families (KPM).

Previously, Perum Bulog ensured that the government's rice reserve stock (CBP) controlled by Bulog was safe for Christmas 2023 and New Year's 2024 needs. The current stock controlled by Bulog is 1.4 million tons.