indonesia receives rice import commitments from India and Thailand, says report


Published on: December 22, 2023.

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Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo announced on Friday that his government has successfully secured rice import agreements with both India and Thailand, ensuring a stable supply for 2024.

To address potential food shortages, Indonesia’s food procurement agency Bulog has signed an initial deal for importing 1 million metric tons of rice from India. Additionally, Indonesia has obtained a commitment for 2 million tons from Thailand.

Despite low headline inflation in Indonesia, President Jokowi expressed concerns about rising food prices and emphasized the importance of imports in securing the country’s food supply. He highlighted the impact of the super El Nino on rice production this year and predicted that production levels will not fully recover by 2024.

During a recent meeting of Japanese and Southeast Asian leaders in Japan, President Jokowi held discussions with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. In these talks, he sought to establish rice imports from Thailand to meet Indonesia’s needs.

By diversifying its rice imports and collaborating with rice-exporting countries like India and Thailand, Indonesia aims to ensure a stable and sufficient supply of rice for its population.

As one of the world’s largest rice consumers, Indonesia is taking proactive steps to address potential challenges to its food security. The strategic agreements with India and Thailand will support the country in meeting its rice demands and stabilizing prices.

Source: [https://www.business-standard.com](https://www.business-standard.com){rel=nofollow}