Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said he would pay the government’s rice debt to the Logistics Agency (Bulog) and the National Food Agency (Bapanas) amounting to IDR 16 trillion. However, Sri Mulyani is still waiting for the audit results from the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP).
“Our mechanism with Bulog and Bapanas is that we will make payments after an audit from BPKP,” said Sri Mulyani at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Jakarta, Monday (6/11/2023).
He said he had asked BPKP to carry out the audit more quickly. In this way, he said, the government can immediately receive the bill amount and make payments.
Even though she is still waiting for the BPKP audit, Sri Mulyani is confident that Bulog and Bapanas’ finances will not be disrupted because of this debt. Because, he said, the two institutions could borrow funds from banks first.
 Photo: Workers pack food supply and price stabilization (SPHP) rice at the Bulog warehouse at the Jakarta Banten Regional Office in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tuesday (17/10/2023). SPHP Rice aims to reduce the price of rice on the market. (CNBC Indonesia/Faisal Rahman)Workers pack food supply and price stabilization (SPHP) rice at the Bulog warehouse at the Jakarta Banten Regional Office in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tuesday (17/10/2023). SPHP Rice aims to reduce the price of rice on the market. (CNBC Indonesia/Faisal Rahman) |
“There shouldn’t be any problems because Bulog and Bapanas can get a budget to import rice and carry out market operations using banking funds which we will pay,” he added.
Previously, President Joko Widodo ordered the Minister of Finance to immediately pay off the debt to Perum Bulog. This was stated by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Airlangga Hartarto, after an internal meeting regarding the distribution of food aid, at the Presidential Palace, today, Monday (6/11/2023).
“Earlier at the President’s direction, the Minister of Finance was asked to immediately pay off Bulog’s bill which had accumulated Rp. 16 trillion,” Airlangga told reporters.
The meeting, he said, discussed the distribution of food aid in the form of 10 kg of rice. Where, as of November 2 2023, the distribution of quota food aid for September reached 94.95% and October around 94.89%, November around 18.45%. “And, we still have December,” explained Airlangga.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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