TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said that Indonesia is set to export rice to three countries in the Pacific Ocean. The three countries include Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu.

“The rice price [in the three countries] is Rp23,000 or about US$2 per kilogram. We offer them US$1 [per kilogram] and they are interested,” Amran said after attending a meeting with Agriculture Ministers from Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu at his office in Jakarta today, August 9.

Also attending the meeting were Fiji Minister of Agriculture, Rural Areas, Maritime Development, and National Disaster Management Inia Batikoto Seruiratu, Samoan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Leuatea Polataivao Fossie Schmidt Laauli, and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Fisheries, and Biological Safety of the Vanuatu Republic Seremaia Matai Nawalu.

The three ministers expressed interests in building a partnership with Indonesia in the field of agriculture and farmer capacity improvement.

According to Amran, the rice will be exported from Merauke. In addition to rice exports, Indonesia will also send horticulture exports to improve the agriculture sector in the three countries.

ANTARA