A rice agent in Phnom Penh. (Source: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Cambodian government has allowed companies to resume exporting rice from next week, after banning it for more than a month to ensure the country's food security during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was made on May 13 at the request of the Cambodia Rice Federation after the Southeast Asian country has detected no new COVID-19 cases for a month.
According to Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth, the government decided to allow the resumption of white rice exports based on purchase orders from abroad, starting from May 20 onwards.
The government also encouraged factories to produce face masks, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment for local demand and export, he added.
In the first four months of this year, Cambodia exported over 300,000 tonnes of rice, a year-on-year rise of 40.5 percent.
The Cambodian Health Ministry reported that the country has so far recorded 122 COVID-19 infection cases, with 121 patients recovered./.
