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A number of provinces in the Mekong delta have proposed that the Government allow to increase rice exports to 4.5 million tonnes this year rather than the initial target of 4 million tonnes.
Representatives from the provinces of Kien Giang, Long An, An Giang, Dong Thap and Tien Giang made the proposal during a meeting on rice exports held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) in Tien Giang province on May 28.
They said their proposal was based on the fact that the Mekong delta – Vietnam ’s rice basket region – is harvesting a bumper crop.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien said his ministry would submit the proposal to the Prime Minister for approval by the time the yearly target of 4 million tonnes of rice has been met.
The proposal would then be considered against the condition that rice supplies must be sufficient for domestic consumption and food security before allowing further exports.
Vietnam has signed contracts expected to export more than 2.4 million tonnes of rice in the first five months of this year. It shipped abroad more than 1.67 million tonnes of rice in the first four months, earning a revenue of 816 million USD, up 19.2 percent in volume and 81 percent in value, according to MIT statistics.
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