Govt likely to sign 0.1m tones rice import deal with Vietnam

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FE Report
The government is set to sign a 0.1-million tonnes rice import deal with Vietnam within a fortnight to replenish the food grain stock, official said.
Director General of Food Directorate Ahmed Hossain Khan told the FE Thursday: "We have finalised the terms and conditions with the visiting Vietnamese delegation for import of 100,000 tonnes rice."
The decision has been finalised at a meeting Wednesday evening between the ministry officials and the Vietnamese delegation led by Cao Thi Ngoc Hoa, vice director general of Vietnam Southern Food Corporation, a government entity.
Mr Khan said: "We have negotiated with the Vietnamese delegation to keep the price less than US$369.50 per tonne and the supply will begin in 60 days."
"We will send a proposal in this regard to Prime Minister's office for approval of the terms and conditions. After getting the approval, it will be sent to the purchase committee after which the deal will be signed."
In reply to a question about the type of rice that will be imported, the DG said it would be basically white (atap) rice as Vietnam does not export parboiled rice.
Food Directorate DG said: "At this moment the stock of rice is around 0.55 million tonnes and to meet the continuous demand of we are procuring rice locally as well as importing."
"We will also be importing rice from India to increase the buffer stock. India has agreed to sell 0.3 million tonnes instead of 0.1 tonnes million previously agreed."
"The import of around 0.2 million tonnes of rice is on the pipeline and among this 50,000 tonnes have reached the country. The rest of the amount will arrive soon," he added.