Indonesia’s State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) are finalizing preparations to export Indonesian rice to Saudi Arabia to meet the needs of Indonesian pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj and Umrah seasons. The initiative follows a mandate from President Prabowo Subianto.
Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said a coordination meeting was held with Kemenhaj on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, to align policies, technical readiness, and operational steps.
“This is to ensure that the export implementation runs on time, with quality, and in accordance with international market standards, as the Hajj season approaches,” Rizal said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
He explained that the meeting discussed preparations in detail, including the selection and standardization of rice quality, appropriate packaging, pricing, and the drafting of delivery timelines and efficient distribution schemes.
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Rizal is optimistic that this year’s rice exports will proceed smoothly and calls for support from ministries and institutions, particularly the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Trade.
“Alhamdulillah, the opportunity to export rice for Hajj this year has been opened by the Saudi Arabian government, and this is a legacy for the government to be able to export rice,” he said.
Bulog has also conducted “uji tanak” (cooking tests) on several rice samples proposed for export. The tests assessed texture, aroma, taste, and quality after cooking to ensure the rice meets consumer preferences and premium standards.
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“The results of this cooking test will be one of the bases for determining the type of rice and brand to be used in the export program,” Rizal added.
He further emphasized that Indonesia is ready to take advantage of the national rice surplus in 2025, which marked the success of food self-sufficiency and opened strategic opportunities for the country to expand its role as a global rice exporter.
Meanwhile, Jainul Efendi, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Economic Ecosystem Development at Kemenhaj, highlighted the importance of exporting local rice to safeguard the comfort and health of Indonesian pilgrims.
“This is our motivation, together with Bulog, the Ministry of Trade, and all parties involved, to export rice to Saudi Arabia. The main reason is that pilgrims from Indonesia are not accustomed to consuming rice other than local rice, which can certainly affect their health during the pilgrimage,” Jainul said.
Source: rri.co
