Ginandjar asks for more rice aid from Japan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and
\nIndustry Ginandjar Kartasasmita asked the Japanese government
\nyesterday for 400,000 metric tons of additional rice aid, saying
\nthat Indonesia's rice production might be lower than forecast.<\/p>\n
\"This year's rice production forecast is probably a little bit
\ntoo optimistic. The country's real production will probably be
\nmuch less than the forecast,\" Ginandjar said in a speech while
\nreceiving a shipment of 500,000 tons of rice from Japan in a soft
\nloan.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) had faced
\ndifficulties in procuring rice during the harvest season this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
It is an indication that we need more supplies and stocks, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We will probably need to increase imports. I would like to
\nuse this opportunity... if there is any possibility, to ask the
\nJapanese government for this assistance,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Takao Kawakami said that
\nJapan's rice aid to Indonesia was the largest ever.<\/p>\n
\"For Japan, this assistance is the biggest aid in history...
\nas Japan is also currently facing economic difficulties. However,
\nJapan will continue assistance as Indonesia is a very important
\nfriend to Japan,\" Kawakami said.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar pledged that the rice aid from Japan would be
\ndelivered to those most severely hit by the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
\"We will assure you that the rice will reach the right people,
\nthe needy... the people severely impacted by the economic
\ncrisis,\" Ginandjar said.<\/p>\n
The Japanese government has pledged to send 600,000 tons of
\nrice to Indonesia, 500,000 tons of which would be delivered
\nthrough the government in soft loans, 40,000 tons through
\ninternational institutions and 10,000 tons as a grant would be
\ndelivered through non-governmental organizations. The remaining
\n50,000 tons is being prepared as a grant.<\/p>\n
The Central Bureau of Statistics has predicted that
\nIndonesia's unhusked rice output is expected to drop 6.25 percent
\nto 46.29 million metric tons this year, down from 49.38 million
\ntons in 1996, due to the planting season being delayed by the
\ndrought.<\/p>\n
The government estimated in February that this year's rice
\nproduction would drop 3.80 percent.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is expected to import 3.1 million tons of rice from
\nThailand, Japan, India, China, Vietnam and Pakistan to make up
\nfor shortages in domestic production this year.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, Dow Jones newswires reported that Taiwan
\nwas in the process of reviewing a 200,000-ton rice deal with
\nIndonesia, along with other bilateral programs, in view of anti-
\nChinese incidents that occurred during the May riots in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia plans to import up to 200,000 tons of rice from
\nTaiwan in the form of a 10-year soft loan. The shipment is
\nexpected in September. (gis)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ginandjar-asks-for-more-rice-aid-from-japan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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