The offer was made during a business matching event organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from the Presidential Media Team in Jakarta on Saturday.
Haji Nusantara Rice is a super-premium product made from freshly harvested paddy grown by Indonesian farmers using modern milling machines under high-quality standards. The product meets export standards, with controlled moisture content, low broken grain levels, and laboratory testing.
Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said interest shown by the importers signaled positive prospects for rice export to Saudi Arabia to meet the needs of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
“After the presentation and taste testing session with the importers, the response we received was very good and quite encouraging,” Ramdhani stated.
Importers had the opportunity to taste rice cooked from Indonesian grains and compare it with products from other countries. Importers noted that Indonesian rice has a soft texture, pleasant aroma, and flavor profile that suits the preferences of the Saudi Arabian market.
Related news: Indonesia's Hajj Minister heads to Saudi Arabia to check 2026 services
Ramdhani added that Bulog is optimistic that importers in Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah will be able to absorb significant volumes of Bulog rice.
“It would be a pride and honor for us if Haji Nusantara Rice can be used to meet the needs of Hajj pilgrims. We hope this step will bring blessings to the Indonesian nation while strengthening the position of national food products in the international market,” he said.
This market exploration aligns with the government’s target to begin exporting premium rice to Saudi Arabia. The government set an initial shipment plan of 2,280 tons of premium rice in the third week of February 2026.
The initial shipment is intended to meet this year’s Hajj consumption needs and marks Indonesia’s initial step in entering the food supply chain for the Hajj and Umrah sector in Saudi Arabia.
Related news: Indonesia readies rice shipment to Saudi for 2026 Hajj
Translator: Maria Cicilia, Kuntum Khaira
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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