RI won't buy Thai rice

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)