RI barters plane for rice, again

RI barters plane for rice, again

THAILAND: Indonesia has agreed to import 300,000 tons of Thai rice in exchange for an Indonesian-made aircraft, the second such barter deal, state media reported on Saturday.

The new rice-for-airplane agreement was concluded at a plenary meeting between Thai and Indonesian officials, chaired by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday, Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan told the Thai News Agency.

"This is the second barter trade agreement between the two neighbors over the past two years," said Sudarat. But she noted that Thailand had yet to follow through in the purchase of the first plane.

"So, this time Jakarta agreed to purchase the new lot of Thai rice in a hope that more than one aircraft will be shipped to Thailand," said Sudarat. "The first Indonesian aircraft under the first deal will soon be shipped to Thailand," she added. -- DPA