TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for economic affairs Darmin Nasution explained the reason behind the decision of Trade Minister to issue a special order of 500 tons of rice import. The decision raises a lot of questions since harvest period is approaching.
Darmin Nasution stated that the import policy was taken to suppress rising price of rice.
"The price of rice is currently soaring, that’s is why it requires certain measures," he said in Jakarta on Friday, January 12.
Read: Jokowi Asking for 20 Percent of Malaysia Rice Import Quota
and: Govt Opens Rice Import Option
The minister explained that the price of rice influences inflation. If the price decreases by the end of the month, the inflation rate in January will not pose any serious impact. On the contrary, rising price of rice significantly influences inflation rate.
Darmin Nasution went on by saying that rice import is one of the measures taken to curb inflation. In addition, the government has carried out the market operation and distributed rice.
VINDRY FLORENTIN
