Rice Import Provisions Changed
Tuesday, 13 February, 2007 | 16:39 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government will look at rice import provisions as regards the rice import policy in approaching the harvest season this year.

The coordination meeting led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and attended by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono, Trade Minister Mari E. Pangestu and Bulog (State Logistics Agency) Head, decided that the government will import one million tons of rice.

The Industry and Trade Minister’s Decision Letter No. 9/2004 regulated that rice imports cannot be one month prior to, during and two months after harvesting season.

In terms of the plan to import one million tons of rice, 500,000 tons will enter Indonesia April at the latest. The remaining 500,000 tons is an option that can be taken if the market operation is not successful in reducing rice price that remains high.

“The import provisions will be adjusted. Of course in the near future,” said Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, in Jakarta, Tuesday (13/2).

The regulation revision, according to him, must be viewed thoroughly. “So that the regulations for domestic and for foreign countries are consistent,” said Mari.

In the meantime, Domestic Trade Director General, Ardiansyah S. Parman, said the import mechanism can be business to business or government to government. “Any mechanism, the point is getting a cheap price,” he said.

RR ARIYANI