TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The state logistics agency (Bulog) has officially launched the country’s first supermall dubbed PangananDotCom to ease the public or consumers purchasing rice via e-commerce.

The launching event was held at the agency’s warehouse complex in Kelapa Gading led by the president director Budi Waseso.

"PangananDotcom is hoped to be the largest online king market or supermall across Indonesia. So the public can easily meet their food and daily needs with an affordable shipping cost,” said Budi Waseso in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 26.

Temporarily, he explained, consumers could obtain the service by accessing the account PangananDotcom via e-commerce Shopee. The agency would later cooperate with other online commerce to expand the market.

PangananDotcom was expected to shorten the distribution chain considering the country’s geographical conditions that lead to high shipping costs, long delivery time, and the lack of a variety of products.

Additionally, the online store was opened up as one of the agency’s efforts to succeed in the non-cash food assistance program (BPNT), which will be converted into Kartu Sembako or staple food card.

“Hopefully, the assistance beneficiaries can receive the food without a hassle, and people can purchase rice with the same prices in all regions,” Budi Waseso said.

During the launching event, Bulog promoted 50 new brands of rice and fortified rice with eight additional nutrients to support the government’s program to improve nutrition for society and alleviate stunting.

ANTARA