By Sabyasachi Samajdar, FoodBizDaily.com Bureau Chief – New Delhi
November 4, 2009 – The Government of India is likely to import 2 million tons of rice from the Government of Thailand and the Government of Vietnam.
A meeting Group of Minister (GOM) headed by Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee has been fixed on November 12 to discuss the issue and it is expected that the GOM will take the decision on various proposals for rice imports.
It is also expected that the Government of India may give some incentives for such imports to be spread over one year.
In order to meet shortfall of rice around 15 million tons in the summer-sown crop, the Government of India last month allowed tax-free imports of rice. Three state-owned companies namely PEC, MMTC and STC have been asked to import 30000 tons of rice by mid-December, it is learnt.