Indonesia Secures Rice Import Pledges from India and Thailand, Reveals Report
Published on: December 22, 2023.
Filed under:
Rewritten Article:
Indonesia’s President, Joko Widodo, has announced that his government has successfully secured rice import commitments from two major rice-exporting countries, India and Thailand. These import agreements have been made to ensure an adequate supply of rice for the year 2024.
The country’s food procurement agency, Bulog, has already signed an initial deal for the import of 1 million metric tons of rice from India. Additionally, Indonesia has secured a commitment for the import of 2 million tons of rice from Thailand.
President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, expressed his concerns about rising food prices despite the low headline inflation in the country. He emphasized that these imports would play a crucial role in securing a stable and sufficient supply of rice for the nation.
Addressing an economic outlook event in Jakarta, Jokowi highlighted the impact of the super El Nino on rice production, which resulted in decreased yields. He also mentioned that it is projected that rice production levels will not return to normal by 2024.
During a meeting of Japanese and Southeast Asian leaders in Japan, Jokowi had discussions with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. He specifically sought rice imports from Thailand to meet Indonesia’s rice requirements.
These rice import commitments from India and Thailand will play a vital role in stabilizing the rice supply in Indonesia and addressing concerns about food prices. The government’s proactive approach in securing these imports demonstrates their commitment to ensuring food security for the nation.
Source: [Business Standard](https://www.business-standard.com)
