Vietnamese PM allows resumption of rice export

ABO/NDO - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to a proposal from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to resume the export of rice in April but noted that food security must be guaranteed.

Vietnam will export 400,000 tonnes of rice in April.

Vietnam is expected to export 400,000 tonnes of rice this month.

The PM stated that rice export must not affect domestic consumption, especially in the context of climate change and the Covid-19 epidemic.

He asked the MOIT to formulate an export plan for May and report to him before April 25 and to create a scenario for regulating the rice market in case the Covid-19 epidemic extends further to the end of 2020.

Earlier, on April 6, the ministry proposed exporting a total of 800,000 tonnes in April and May, a drop of 40% compared with the corresponding period in 2019.

It stated that Vietnam should export the first 400,000 tonnes and that the decision for May will be made in the last week of the month, depending on the epidemic situation and reports from the relevant ministries.

(Source: NDO)