The government has amended the existing policy of coarse rice export to Sri Lanka incorporating a provision of government-to-government contract.
The Ministry of Commerce yesterday issued a gazette notification regarding the amendment to the rules of fragrant rice export.
The country is likely to export first-ever coarse rice of 50,000 tonnes to Sri Lanka at a rate of $450 per tonne this month.
Md Sarwar Khan, directorate general of Food Department, told the Dhaka Tribune the export of coarse rice rests on the Sri Lankan authorities as the government has reduced the rice price per tonne.
Sarwar said: “if they [Sri Lankan authorities] want they can sign agreement in Dhaka or we will go to them for signing.”
He said the price of coarse rice may be higher than that in the international market, but the production cost would not cover if the price goes below $450.
“We will supply 50,000 tonnes of coarse price to Sri Lanka after procuring Aman and Boro,” he further said.
The director general declined to disclose actual date of signing the coarse rice export agreement.
Sources in the Food Ministry said the visit of Sri Lankan delegation delays due to ongoing hartal and unstable political situation, but hopefully the contract will be signed in Dhaka.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan team visited Dhaka, but disagreed about the rice price which was estimated above Tk460 per tonne.
Later, the government asked the Food Ministry to reduce the price with which the Sri Lankan authority will comply, said a source in the ministry.
According to the gazette notification, the circular of fragrant rice export circular has been amended under the provision 3 of import and export (control) act.
At present, the price of coarse rice in the global market ranges between $400 and $420 per tonne while the government procures rice form the local markets at $436 per tonne.