Ministries modify rice export conditions

CANTHO – The Ministry of Industry and Trade, at the request of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, is working to amend Decree 109 on business conditions for rice export to allow rice export enterprises to compete on an equal footing.

The information was given by Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, at the 2017 annual economic forum titled "Solutions to increase the competitiveness of Can Tho City in 2017- 2020 with a vision towards 2030" taking place in Can Tho City on April 13.

According to Hai, the Government is actively improving the rice export business environment by reducing the intervention of non-State organizations that may cause difficulties for rice export enterprises.

Earlier, at the conference "Solutions for the sustainable development of rice in the Mekong Delta" held in An Giang Province on March 15, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested relevant ministries and departments to revise the regulations that hinder the development of Vietnam’s rice sector.

Specifically, the PM requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to scrap some unreasonable rights of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) such as price ceiling control and quota distribution which obstruct the export of rice and the development of Vietnamese rice sector as a whole.

Besides, Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Industry and Trade, has agreed to adjust Decree 109 on rice export business by eliminating complicated regulations on rice export activity.

In addition to Decree 109, the PM requested a revision of Decree 35 on management of rice land use and Decision 1898 on approving the restructuring of Vietnam's rice sector until 2020 with a vision towards 2030 due to some inappropriate targets and orientations.

At the same time, the State Bank of Vietnam was asked to amend Decree 55 on credit policy for rural development by allowing long-term and medium-term loans instead of short-term loans to support the investment in rice milling and processing system and warehouses.