Foreign firms granted licence to export rice

Four foreign-invested enterprises have been given a licence to export rice, Industry and Trade Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Bien said.

The foreign companies joined the list of 44 that met the criteria to export rice under Government Decree 109 on the management of rice exports.

Speaking in Ho Chi Minh City, Bien said five more businesses will receive licences within the next few days, bringing the total to 49, with a total capacity of 70 per cent of the nation’s rice export turnover.

Bien also said Vietnamese exporters who have sufficient capabilities to join the market will be supported to sharpen their competitive edge.

According to the Vietnam Foods Association, about 70-80 of 200 enterprises had met the requirements regarding warehouse, drying machine systems and rice husking machines to export rice.

As soon as the new regulation is applied on October 1, the rice industry is expected to minimise post-harvest rice damage to 5 per cent from 15 per cent, the association said.

Vietnam’s rice export in the first seven months rose to a record 4.62 million tonnes and fetched $2.18 billion, the association said.

It represented an increase of 16.72 per cent in volume and 26.07 per cent in value compared with the same period last year. – VIR

Tags: Vietnam rice, Vietnam rice exports, Vietnam rice exports 2011