RI won't buy Thai rice

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has no intention to buy the rice offered by Thailand on the grounds that Indonesia's rice stocks are now more than enough, the government announced on Saturday.

After meeting with the visiting Thai minister of trade, Uthai Pimchaichon, Minister of Food/Chairman of the Logistic Board (Bulog) Ibrahim Hasan said that Bulog's rice stocks now exceed one million tons.

Indonesia has so far lent 700,000 tons rice stock to other developing countries to help those in need and to enhance the South-to-South relationship.

Of the total, 500,000 tons are due to be repaid this year.

In a related development, Hasan said that Indonesia and Thailand have agreed to cooperate in the field of food technology such as the processing of glutinous rice.(09)