Indonesia may export 50,000 tonnes of premium quality rice to South Korea, the economic minister of Southeast Asia's largest economy said on Wednesday, making it the first shipment of the grain to the North Asian country if the deal goes through.
Indonesia's agriculture ministry added that an export license had been granted to suppliers in the South Sulawesi province.
The South Sulawesi governor had requested permission to export 200,000 tonnes of premium rice to South Korea, but the Indonesian government would only consider 50,000 tonnes as a first step, chief economics minister Hatta Rajasa said. "By giving export permit of premium rice, we also want to show the world that Indonesia has a potential to supply rice to the world market, because we are also dreaming of feeding the world," added Rajasa.
The country is normally a buyer of rice rather than exporter, though occasionally exports high quality or organic rice. If the shipments go ahead, it would be the first time Indonesia has exported premium rice to South Korea, an official at the trade ministry told Reuters.
"This is the first step and we will issue the permit gradually while we are evaluating the export realisation and stock condition," the country's agriculture minister Suswono added. Suswono said the award was granted because Indonesians do not consume too much premium rice and preferred medium-grade rice. "That's why we are assuming that there is an excessive stock of premium rice in South Sulawesi," he said.
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