Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam’s rice sector is expected to hit big fromexports this year, heard a conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade(MoIT) in Ho Chi Minh City on February 21.
Speaking at the event, the Director of the MoIT’sDepartment of Export and Import Pham Van Chinh said thanks to the Government’stimely support, Vietnam exported 7.13 million tonnes of rice last year, up13.8% in volume and 5.1% in value annually, making it among the top three riceexporters globally.
This year, Vietnam’s rice export is estimated at about 6.5-7million tonnes thanks to higher demand for Vietnam’s quality rice.
According to the Vietnam Food Association, Vietnam’s rice exportprices maintained growth in the first two months of this year.
Rice production for export is mostly in the Mekong Delta whilethat in other regions is mainly for domestic consumption, said the Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development (MARD)’s Department of Crop Production.
Deputy Director of the Can Tho municipal Department of Industry andTrade Tran Minh Kiet said since the beginning of this year, exporters havefulfilled signed contracts and struck new deals. The agreements have been mostly shipping jasmine riceto the Philippines, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and especially the Republic ofKorea.
Deputy Director of the An Giang provincial Department of Industryand Trade Nguyen Thanh Huan proposed that the MoIT continue assisting localitieswith market information as well as inviting domestic and foreign importers to localitiesfor the purchase of agro-fisheries.
Besides, the MoIT and MARD suggested China hold more trips toVietnamese localities to grant licenses to eligible businesses to export riceto the country./.
