The Indonesian government agency for logistics and food supply, BULOG, announced on Sunday that it is currently importing 300,000 tons of rice from Thailand and Pakistan.
This move aims to bolster the country's food reserves ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
BULOG clarified that this quantity is being imported to strengthen the nation's food stockpile. The imported rice is still en route to Indonesia, according to BULOG's General Director, Bayu Krishnamurti, in Jakarta today.
The news was reported by Antara, the Indonesian news agency.
The import is expected to increase Indonesia's rice inventory in BULOG's warehouses, which currently stands at 1.3 million tons.
These stocks are crucial for ensuring the stability of rice supplies and prices in the country.
Krishnamurti explained that BULOG's rice imports are based on a meticulous assessment of domestic rice production and demand.
As the sole importer of rice in Indonesia, BULOG conducts imports gradually and strategically, considering factors such as harvest seasons and maintaining the stability of domestic rice prices.