JAKARTA, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will export 2,280 tonnes of rice to Saudi Arabia for Indonesian Haj pilgrims, marking the country's first overseas shipment of domestically produced rice specifically for the annual haj pilgrimage.
President Director of Indonesia's state-owned enterprise Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, said the shipment would be carried out in two phases – on Feb 28 and March 4 – respectively.
"The two-stage delivery aims to ensure logistical security and maintain reserve supplies in case of shipping disruptions, with the sea voyage estimated to take five to six weeks," he said, according to ANTARA News Agency.
Ahmad Rizal said the consignment is valued at around Rp150 billion and would depart from Tanjung Priok Port, here, to Jeddah Port, Saudi Arabia, with onward distribution to haj catering services handled by local importers in Saudi Arabia.
He said the rice meets premium specifications requested by Saudi partners, adding that the shipment demonstrates Indonesia's capacity to independently supply premium rice for its haj pilgrims this year.
He also assured that the shipment would not disrupt domestic rice supply, as it is backed by careful stock planning and sufficient national reserves.
-- BERNAMA
