Jakarta, Aug. 4 -- Trade Minister Budi Santoso has said that the government's plan to ease the imports of food trays or compartmentalized food containers is aimed at meeting high domestic demand due to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.

"Food tray imports are being opened up for the sake of the MBG program because we need a large quantity of those products," he informed here on Monday.

He clarified that the government has never restricted local businesses from participating in the supply of food trays.

According to the minister, imports will only be considered if domestic producers are unable to meet the high demand of food trays for MBG.

"If the domestic market cannot meet the need, we will allow imports. We are not banning the...