This comes after the Government Office sent documents to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on March 25 outlining PM Phuc’s request for rice exports and reserves to be thoroughly inspected and evaluated.

In order to carry out the necessary activities, the government chief has assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade with the task of co-ordinating alongside other ministries and relevant agencies to set up an inter-sector inspection team. The purpose of the team will be to work with localities and key rice exporters in a bid to evaluate the supply of rice, rice exports, and the performance of rice export contracts.

Given the current situation, the cabinet leader will consider making decision on adjusting rice export activities in line with regulations. While waiting for the completion of the appraisal report by the inter-sector inspection team, the PM has requested a temporary halt to the signing of new rice export contracts.

For those rice export contracts which have been signed in accordance with the law, they will be handled following the submission of the report by the inter-sector inspection team.