GOVT OPENS SUGAR IMPORT OPPORTUNITIES BY END OF 2009

Jakarta, Aug 29 (ANTARA) - The government plans to open opportunities for sugar imports by the end of this year to secure sugar supplies next year.

"The opportunities will be open in anticipation of a climatic change which will have an adverse impact on sugar production," Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu said in Jakarta, Friday.

But before making a final decision on sugar imports, the government will first hold a technical coordinating meeting to finalize the national sugar balance on Monday (Aug 31).

"The sugar balance will be a basis for further efforts and measures in suppressing efforts at raising the price of the commodity, such as making the right adjustments of the import volumes," he said.

According to the trade minister, it would be necessary to re-count the national sugar balance for a prection of the impact of a climate change on production targets and changes of data on the need for crystalized sugar which may occur due to the excessive use of sugar by the food and beverage industries.

Right now the government is still trying to curb the increase of the price of sugar which has reached Rp9,700 per kg of the national average.

The first step would be for the government to call on sugar producers, especially state enterprises, to sell the commodity at low prices.

"Another measure would be making adjustments to sugar imports, or import duty adjustments," the minister said.

She also said that sugar supplies for national consumption was still enough until the end of the year, but the government still needs to anticipate next year's needs of the commodity.