The two-day event, the sixth of its kind, attracted 500representatives of rice processing and exporting enterprises andassociations from 40 countries and territories.
During theopening ceremony, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Sun Chantholstressed that rice played an important role in global food security.
He asked exporting businesses to develop rice trade strategies with aview to ensuring food stability, which helps harmonise consumers,businesses and farmers’ interests.
A number of activities areplanned as part of the conference, such as trade promotion events andworkshops on increasing rice production and export effectiveness,measures to tackle the difficulties in rice exports, and trends andchallenges in 2015.
In addition, the World’s Best Rice Award,with Cambodia currently as reigning winner, will be decided as partof the event.
General Secretary of the Vietnam Food AssociationHuynh Minh Hue said the conference served as a forum for Vietnameseenterprises to promote their brands and connect with other riceexporting businesses.
He added that Vietnam was focussingon improving rice quality, adding value to products, and increasingprofit for producers, which all help boost the global image ofVietnamese rice.
Southeast Asia is one of the mostimportant rice producing areas in the world. In recent years, Vietnambecame the world’s second largest rice exporter, with the main marketsincluding China and ASEAN member states.
The country aims to export 6.5-7 million tonnes of rice in 2014.-VNA