Bulog rice import contract differs from govt<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Confusion reigns over rice imports, resumed recently to secure
\nnational stocks and keep prices stable, with the trade ministry
\nand state logistics firm Bulog -- the executor of the policy --
\nproviding conflicting data on the import volume allowed.<\/p>\n
Bulog president director Widjanarko Puspoyo claimed last week
\nthe company had signed a contract to import some 250,000 tons of
\nrice from Vietnam until Jan. 16 next year, and failing to comply
\nwith it would risk hefty penalties.<\/p>\n
The volume should spring a surprise with Minister of Trade
\nMari E. Pangestu, who said last week that her ministry
\n\"had only allowed Bulog to import up to 70,050 tons of rice.\"<\/p>\n
So far, Bulog has distributed 68,900 tons of imported rice to
\neight areas in the country, where rice stock were deemed to be
\nfalling short.<\/p>\n
The ministry announced that on Nov. 1, it had temporarily
\nlifted the ban on rice imports so as to avoid shortages and
\nrising prices for the commodity. It had previously banned imports
\nin order to protect local farmers.<\/p>\n
Bulog then received a permit to import 70,050 tons of rice
\nfrom Vietnam under a government-to-government mechanism as stated
\nin a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU was translated
\ninto a ministerial letter and then a business contract was signed
\nby Bulog.<\/p>\n
The MOU, claimed Widjanarko, stipulated that Vietnam could
\nprovide up to 500,000 tons of rice until 2007 for Indonesia if
\nneeded. The implementation of each batch of imports would have to
\nwait for a permit from the trade ministry.<\/p>\n
Based on that, \"We have been given a permit to import up to
\n250,000 tons,\" Widjanarko said, insisting that the firm would
\nkeep importing from Vietnam until the 250,000 ton quota had been
\nmet to avoid any penalty.<\/p>\n
Mari, however, did not share Widjanarko's views, saying the
\ngovernment would stick to the 70,050 ton figure, and that it
\nwould make a review of rice stocks and prices at the end of
\nNovermber to determine whether to resume rice imports.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bulog-rice-import-contract-differs-from-govt-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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