DPR Commission IV accelerates Indonesia's rice exports to countries beyond Saudi Arabia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Abdul Kharis, Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has urged expanding national rice exports to various other countries after the successful shipment of 2,280 tonnes of rice to Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia in order to broaden the global market. ‘This is very good and hopefully it can be sent to other countries,’ Abdul Kharis said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. He also praised the inaugural export of 2,280 tonnes of Indonesian rice to Saudi Arabia, which was released directly by Agriculture Minister and Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Andi Amran Sulaiman at Bulog Warehouse in Jakarta. Abdul Kharis expressed pride at the inaugural shipment to Saudi Arabia. The shipment provides market certainty for rice produced by Indonesian farmers domestically. As Deputy Chairman of Commission IV, which handles agriculture, environment and forestry, as well as maritime affairs and fisheries, he hopes the move can continue to target other countries, especially to meet the needs of Indonesians abroad. ‘An expectation from Commission IV as a partner of the Minister of Agriculture, this will be followed by subsequent exports to supply the needs of the hajj pilgrims, followed by Umrah pilgrims and the Indonesian migrants living there, which number quite large,’ he added. According to him, Indonesian rice has strong markets overseas because its flavour matches the palate of Indonesians.