CANBERRA: Indonesia will be able to export rice next year for the first time in 16 years, helping to ease a global food shortage, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said on Wednesday during a visit to Australia. 

"Indonesia, in the past 16 years, for the first time will produce enough rice for itself and a little surplus, and with the expected (extra) rice, around 5 percent this year, will export rice next year," he told reporters at Australia's parliament.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous nation, normally imports some rice but officials have said it may not need to this year as production should be sufficient to meet domestic demand and raising the prospect of being able to export. -- Reuters