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Rice imports from India ‘close’ to happening: Trade Minister
Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has said Indonesia is close to securing rice shipments from India, despite the partial ban imposed by New Delhi.
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A customer checks the quality of rice at Cipinang Market in East Jakarta in October 2022. (AFP/M Risyal Hidayat)
T
rade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has said Indonesia is close to securing rice shipments from India, despite the partial ban imposed by New Delhi.
Speaking to reporters after a hearing with the House of Representatives on Monday, Zulkifli said the import deal was still under negotiation but proceeded to answer, “it’s close, hopefully it will work out,” when asked about the progress of the talks, without divulging details.
Separately, State Logistics Agency (Bulog) president director Budi “Buwas” Waseso said India kept an open mind about exporting rice to Indonesia despite the ban imposed months ago.
“India will possibly allow rice exports to Indonesia, not next year, this year. But, so far, the official mandate is not yet there,” Buwas was quoted as saying by Bisnis on Nov. 8.
He said this came after Zulkifli had written to the Indian government on the matter, and based on the information Buwas acquired from the minister, India was ready to ship as much as 1 million to 1.5 million tonnes.
Bulog was ready to import rice from any country should the opportunity arise to fill up the government rice reserves, Buwas said.
India accounts for more than 40 percent of global rice shipments, but on July 20, it banned the export of non-basmati white rice, of which New Delhi had shipped out 10.3 million tonnes in 2022.
