India exempts Singapore from rice export ban due to ‘close strategic partnership’

India has agreed to exempt Singapore from its ban on rice exports owing to “very shut strategic partnership”, the External Affairs Ministry stated.

“India and Singapore get pleasure from a really shut strategic partnership, characterised by shared pursuits, shut financial ties and robust individuals to individuals join. In view of this particular relationship, India has determined to enable export of rice to meet the meals safety necessities of Singapore,” Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was quoted as saying in a communique issued late Tuesday evening.

Formal orders on this regard will probably be issued shortly, he added.

On July 20, India had banned export of non-basmati rice to forestall its rising costs and guarantee availability within the home market.

However with Singapore being a “shut buddy” of India, it has been looking for shipments of rice and exemption from the ban, which the Centre has now granted.

Meanwhile, India has additionally allowed merchants to ship out their non-basmati white rice cargoes, that are caught at ports due to the ban on exports, the DGFT stated in an order issued late on Tuesday.

The authorities on Sunday stated that it has determined not to enable exports of basmati rice under $1,200 per tonne to limit doable “unlawful” cargo of white non-basmati rice within the garb of premium basmati rice.

In a press release, the commerce ministry stated it has directed commerce promotion physique APEDA not to register contracts under $1,200 per tonne. Existing contracts under $1,200 per tonne have been saved in abeyance.

A committee underneath the chairman of APEDA will probably be arrange to consider future plan of action. India had banned the export of non-basmati white rice on July 20 this yr.

It stated: “Contracts for Basmati exports with the worth of $1,200 per MT solely and above needs to be registered for concern of Registration – cum – Allocation Certificate (RCAC).”

The Committee ought to submit its report inside a interval of 1 month, whereafter a call on cheaper price exports of Basmati deliberate by trade may be taken appropriately, it stated.

APEDA ought to maintain consultations with commerce to sensitise them in regards to the matter and work with them to discourage any use of this window for export of non-basmati white rice, the assertion learn.

(With inputs from IANS)