MINISTER CAUTIOUS ABOUT REQUEST FOR RICE EXPORT EXTENSION

Jakarta May 21 (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said she would be very cautious in responding to the request of state logistics agency Bulog for extension of rice exports from June to the end of the year.

"I am afraid that there would be rice scarcities at the end of the year so that I think we have to issue a regulation that would be effective until the end of the harvest season," the minister said here on Wednesday.

She said that if Bulog asked for an extension of the export of rice not consumed at home like organic rice, her side would not object to the request. "Apart from that (harvest season), we still have to be careful," she said.

The minister said that at present about 600 tons of rice had been allowed to be shipped by the trade ministry. The ministry of agriculture has recommended the exports of some 50 thousand tons, she said.

On Tuesday, Bulog asked for an extension of the rice exports until the end of 2009 because it needed time to consolidate the suppliers and buyers.

"I hope that the export quota of 10,000 tons of rice given to Bulog by the government could be realized but we asked that it would not be limited until June only, but until the end of the year instead," Bulog chief Mustafa Abubakar said.