The Press Conference on the afternoon of December 23. Photo: TL

253,303 tons of rice exported

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Pham Viet Ha, Director of the Reserves Management Department, said that in 2021, the General Department of State Reserves has assigned local Reserves Management Departments to export 253,303 tons of rice valued at VND2,912 billion to support people in a timely manner.

Of which, 9,083 tons of rice was allocated to help people for the Lunar New Year; 6,753 tons was for afforestation projects in the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Bac Kan and Bac Giang; 840 tons for disasters and drought and 71,313 tons for pupils.

In addition, the General Department of State Reserves requested the local Reserves Management Departments to issue 141,971 tons of national reserve rice to support Covid-19-hit-people and provide 17,000 tons of rice to Cuba.

For items managed by ministries and government agencies in 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued national reserve items including: 747.76 tons of plant seeds; 146,675 doses of vaccines of all kinds; 377,300 liters of livestock disinfectant and 473 tons of aquatic disinfectant.

The Ministry of Health issued 46 tons of Chloramin B and 24,500 million Aquatabs antiseptic tablets to agencies and cities and provinces and exported 10 tons of Chloramin B as aid to Laos to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of National Defense issued five sets of mobile disinfection equipment for the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Public Security issued 30 Mitsubishi Fuso military vehicles, 28 Hyundai Conunty camouflage military vehicles and 12 Pajero ambulances to the police forces of 30 provinces and cities to perform anti-pandemic work.

“Despite the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country, the General Department of State Reserves and local Departments of Reserves Management have actively worked with the People's Committees to deliver national reserve goods to people as quickly as possible, promptly serving the prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic," said the State Reserves.

As for the inspection and supervision of the allocation and use of national reserve goods, Mr. Pham Viet Ha said coordination in inspection and proactive inspection of the allocation of national reserve goods has been implemented in accordance with regulations by local departments of reserve management.

“Through inspection and reports on the situation of regional departments of reserve management, the allocated national reserve goods ensure quality and quantity, the rice was allocated to the right beneficiaries in accordance with the current regulations on allocation and use of national products and the guidance of the Prime Minister," Mr. Pham Viet Ha said.

Actively respond to unexpected and urgent tasks

At the press conference, Deputy Director General of the General Department of State Reserves Nguyen Thi Pho Giang answered questions on whether the current national reserve resources are sufficient to deal with emergency response in uncertain conditions.

Accordingly, she said the National Reserve Law, which was adopted by the National Assembly on November 20, 2012 and took effect from July 1, 2013, clearly states that national reserve goods are used to meet urgent needs, overcome natural disasters, fires, epidemics, national defense and security. Thereby, the annual national reserve resources have also been added by the State to increase resources to actively respond to unforeseen circumstances.

"Every year, we also give advice to closely balance the reserve according to the budget capacity, strengthen resources to proactively respond to unexpected and urgent tasks," said the leader of the General Department of State Reserves.

She also said the General Department of State Reserves had reported to the Ministry of Finance to report to the Government on strengthening resources when developing the annual list to ensure their release when needed.

The General Department based on the pandemic situation to give advice and allocate resources to regions across the country to deal with incidents in the most proactive way.