TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Jokowi "Jokowi" Widodo mentioned that Indonesia is exploring rice import opportunities from several countries, including India and China. According to the president, the government is not planning to import from said countries in the near future.

The president announced the plan on Monday, September 11, while visiting Bulog Dramaga warehouse in Bogor Regency. Jokowi mentioned that Indonesia currently has 2 million tonnes of rice in stock with 1.6 million tonnes in reserve while the rest 400,000 tonnes are on the way to Indonesia.

"[The stock] is intended to maintain the price. It is inevitable for the production to lower due to El Nino, albeit in a small number," he said.

Jokowi mentioned that he has spoken with a number of state leaders such as Cambodia PM Hun Manet, Bangladesh President Mohamed Shahabuddin, India PM Narendra Modi, and China PM Li Qiang, to explore the opportunities for rice import. The negotiation will be resumed by Bulog, the National Logistics Agency. "Our [rice] stock is abundant for now, but we are also planning [the import] for next year to anticipate," he added.

Meanwhile, the president informed after that the rice import from Cambodia amounting to 250,000 tonnes is already on the way. Previously, he relayed the information during a visit from PM Hun Manet at the State Palace on September 4, 2023.

According to Jokowi, not all 400,000 tonnes of imported rice on the way to Indonesia originated from Cambodia.

Jokowi also stated that he has instructed for social assistance distribution from September 1, 2023, and will be ongoing for three months. Every month, he added, the government will distribute around 210,000 tonnes of rice from Bulog.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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