Saturday | February 14, 2026 | 19:00 WIB
Mediapatriot.com | Jakarta | Breaking News – Amid global food security dynamics and intensifying international market competition, the strategic move by Perum Bulog to explore premium rice exports to Saudi Arabia is more than a mere trade transaction.
It is about national dignity. It is about Indonesian farmers. And it is about how the harvests of the archipelago may soon be served on the dining tables of millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in the Holy Land.
Perum Bulog is targeting export opportunities through its flagship product, Beras Haji Nusantara, offered to Saudi importers during the “Bridging Supply and Service:
Business Matching for Indonesian F&B Distributors and Hajj Catering Providers” forum.
The event was facilitated by the
Konsulat Jenderal Republik Indonesia di Jeddah as part of Indonesia’s food economic diplomacy initiative.
President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, emphasized that the response from importers signals strong potential for Indonesia’s rice exports.
“Following our presentation and joint taste-testing session with importers, the response we received was highly positive and demonstrated genuine interest,” he stated on Saturday (14/2/2026).
Testing Taste, Quality, and Trust
During the business forum, importers from Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah did more than listen to technical briefings.
They directly sampled rice cooked from Indonesian grains and compared it with products from other countries.
The result? Indonesian rice was praised for its soft texture, pleasant aroma, and flavor profile aligned with Saudi consumer preferences.
This assessment was not merely culinary appreciation—it was a critical indicator that Indonesia’s national food products can compete in a highly selective global market.
Bulog remains optimistic that premium rice absorption in the regions of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah could reach significant levels, particularly for the annual catering needs of millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims from around the world.
“Our hope is that this initiative becomes a blessing for Indonesia while strengthening the position of our national food products in the international market,” Ahmad affirmed.
Government Strategy: 2,280 Tons in the Initial Phase
This market exploration is not a sporadic initiative. It forms part of a broader government strategy.
In a recent Limited Coordination Meeting (Rakortas) on Food Affairs, the government approved an initial shipment of 2,280 tons of premium rice scheduled for the third week of February 2026.
The first phase is projected to meet this year’s Hajj consumption needs while serving as Indonesia’s gateway into the food supply chain for the Hajj and Umrah sectors in Saudi Arabia.
If realized according to target, this would mark a new chapter in Indonesia’s rice export history—transforming from a nation largely known as a consumer and occasional importer into an active player in the global premium rice trade.
Beras Haji Nusantara: A Super Premium Standard
According to Ahmad, Beras Haji Nusantara is categorized as super premium rice, produced from freshly harvested paddy cultivated by Indonesian farmers.
It undergoes processing through modern milling facilities adhering to high-quality standards.
Moisture levels are strictly controlled, broken rice percentages are minimal, laboratory-tested quality assurance is applied, and export standards are fulfilled.
What is being offered, therefore, is not merely a commodity—but a product backed by measurable and certified quality.
Behind each grain lies the labor of farmers across Indonesia’s rice fields. There is a long process from harvesting, drying, milling, to packaging.
This export initiative is not solely about tonnage figures—it is about opening new market access that has the potential to improve farmers’ welfare and strengthen the national food ecosystem.
Food Diplomacy and National Dignity
This export effort also carries a strong diplomatic dimension.
Serving Indonesian rice to Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia is not merely business—it is a symbol of trust.
Imagine pilgrims from various countries consuming rice harvested from Indonesian fields in the Holy Land.
In that moment, Indonesia’s food identity becomes present within one of the most sacred spiritual spaces for Muslims worldwide.
“It would be both a pride and an honor for us if Beras Haji Nusantara is chosen to fulfill the needs of Hajj pilgrims,” Ahmad concluded.
Challenges and Expectations
Certainly, the road toward sustainable exports is not without challenges. Domestic production stability, quality consistency, logistical efficiency, and price competitiveness remain critical factors that must be safeguarded.
Yet optimism continues to grow. The positive response from Saudi
importers demonstrates that Indonesia holds tangible opportunities to expand its food market reach into the Middle East—a region with substantial rice consumption demand for the Hajj and Umrah sectors.
This step reflects that food
sovereignty is not merely measured by the ability to meet domestic demand, but also by the courage to penetrate global markets with high-quality products.
If the initial 2,280 tons become the opening chapter, the future may hold far greater volumes.
And in every shipment, there is a story—of farmers, of perseverance, and of a nation gradually reaffirming its dignity through grains of rice cultivated from its own soil.
Mediapatriot.com records that this momentum deserves collective oversight, ensuring that premium rice exports become not just ceremonial milestones, but the beginning of Indonesia’s food renaissance on the global stage.
(RML | Editorial Desk |Mediapatriot.com)