Rice Imports Without Bidding

THE government in the end decided to import 200,000 tons of rice without a bidding process. The direct appointment is to expedite its arrival in the country, which is scheduled for March 31 at the latest.

Initially, the rice would have been part of the 500,000 tons to be imported by the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). However, Minister for Trade Mari Elka Pangestu annulled the earlier decision and decided on three w