The destruction of a consignment of Myanmar rice at Cote
d’Ivoire recently cannot be linked to the quality of the rice, nor can the
exporter companies be held accountable for the issue, as they were in
conformity with the purchase agreement, said U Ye Min Aung, Chairman of the
Myanmar Rice Federation.
“The quality of rice from Myanmar is not at the bottom of
this issue. Rice millers and exporters are working as hard as possible to
improve rice quality to meet international standards. Local consumers must not
harbor concerns over the quality of rice,” said U Ye Min Aung.
“The vessel carrying rice from Myanmar left in October, and
the rice was in the cargo for about 10 months before reaching the African
countries. It has also been learnt that the rice was loaded onto the vessel
during the rains. It is impossible for any rice of high quality to remain good
after being stored as cargo at sea for nine months,” said U Ye Min Aung at a
press conference held at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of
Commerce and Industry yesterday.
“Investigation in the matter isn’t complete yet. The matter
is being investigated from all sides. The press conference has been held to
apprise people as well as interested persons of the information and news
gathered till date,” he said.
More than 150,000 tons of rice was exported to other African
countries at the same time as Cote d’Ivoire, and currently, rice shipments from
Myanmar are on their way to other countries.
A review has found that a Singaporean company bought the rice
from three Myanmar companies — 13,500 metric tons from the Shwe-Wah-Yaung
Company, 500 tons from the Ayeya Hintha Company, and 8,000 from MEC — to sell
it in Guinea, Africa.
MV-Ocean Prince arrived in Yangon to transport the shipment
of rice at the end of August last year. Due to the rainy season, it took about
one-and-a-half months to load the rice. The vessel left Yangon with 22,000 tons
of rice on 15 October, 2018. It then proceeded to India, where it was loaded
with 14,000 tons of rice. It left India in November last year and arrived in
Guinea at the end of December.
“As the rice was traded under the FOB system, companies in
Myanmar were responsible for the period before the loading. Olam International
Co. Ltd was responsible for the remaining operations. Olam is also
investigating the case,” said U Ye Min Aung.
“Our customers also know about the case. After this case, our
company has loaded rice on 17 vessels. We will load over 100,000 tons of rice
in May and June. We have received further orders,” said U Lu Maw Myint Maung,
the Managing Director of the Shwe-Wah-Yaung Company.
The Myanmar Rice Federation will conduct an investigation
into the destruction of rice at Cote d’Ivoire to ascertain the actual
circumstances of the case.
“In fact, if they want to destroy the rice which they
consider unfit for consumption, they must first inform the companies,
governments, and embassies concerned,” said U Aung Than Oo, Vice Chairman, MRF.
Myanmar has exported more than 2.2 million tons of rice and
broken rice between 1 April, 2018 and 15 February, 2019 through the sea route.
About 50 per cent of rice exported by Myanmar through normal
trade goes to African countries.
Aye Yamone
Translated by TTN
Photo: MNA
Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar
No comments:
Post a Comment