Without food, a nation could face turmoil and financial ruin. The agricultural sector is one of the most crucial and strategically vital for a nation to survive.
There are numerous things the Bangladeshi government can do to keep rice in supply, but one of the most common is to import it. This import policy has many drawbacks because Bangladesh is known as an agricultural nation or a nation where the majority of workers are employed in agriculture, but despite this, Bangladesh still imports rice.
In order to safeguard their domestic supply, several countries have blocked the export door due to the current state of the world, which is going through a worldwide food disaster as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Rice is a very essential commodity in the life of Bangladeshi people; in fact, there is a saying in Bangladesh that states that if rice has not been consumed, a person has not eaten. This saying illustrates how important rice has become to Bangladeshi culture.
Despite tensioned relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh, Dhaka has made an import order from Myanmar. Bangladesh buys millions of tonnes of rice annually.
Since agriculture and livestock form the foundation of Myanmar’s economy, rice exports provide additional foreign currency income. To create economic prospects, the State is assisting stockholders, including farmers and investors. 200,000 tonnes of white rice from Myanmar will be exported to Bangladesh, according the Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and Bangladesh addressing rice commerce. For the first time, 2,650 tonnes of rice will be transported straight to Bangladesh by the MV MCL-7 from the Ayeyawady International Industrial Port AIIP in Pathein Industrial City, Ayeyawady Region.
On September 8, representatives from Bangladesh and Myanmar inked a sales agreement to export 200,000 tonnes of white rice from Myanmar to Bangladesh. From the Pathein Port, between 30,000 and 50,000 tonnes of rice are expected to be delivered to Bangladesh. On October 28, 2,650 tonnes of Emahta rice (5 percent broken) began to be loaded into the ship bound for Bangladesh. “Exports of rice help to develop the private sector and produce foreign currency. The first direct rice export from Pathein City to the outside market marks the beginning of regional efforts to promote growth in both the public and private sectors cooperatively. The government looks forward to the city with promising futures, thus the next step is to ease trade in Pathein Industrial City. The region’s GDP is growing as a result of rice exports. In addition to rice, corn and sesame are also intended for direct export through Pathein City to global markets.
On October 31, the 2,650 tonnes of rice that had been loaded were finished, and the MV MCL-7 departed for Bangladesh via the AIIP. At the Port, more ships arrived and left. It involved the direct export of regional goods from Ayeyawady. Exports of rice from Myanmar to its neighbors have the potential to improve farmer livelihoods and open up new markets for enterprises dependent on rice exports. In order to ensure a sustainable market and the promotion of exports, this accomplishment in Pathein City can help improve the tripartite partnership between the State, farmers, and businesses.
According to media reports, by October 2022, more than 20,000 tonnes of rice had already been delivered to Bangladesh, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce. In September of this year, Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an MoU regarding the trading of rice. In accordance with this MoU, Bangladesh has pledged to purchase from Myanmar between 2022 and 2027 250,000 tonnes of rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice. Following the signing of the MoU, MRF and Bangladesh’s Directorate-General of Food signed a sales agreement for 200,000 tonnes of rice to be sold from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Up until October 31, 2022, Myanmar has transported more than 20,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh in accordance with the sales agreements.
Furthermore, the vessel was filled with more than 15,000 tonnes of rice. During the designated time, the extra 150,000 tonnes of rice will be shipped. Since September 7, 2017, rice has been traded between Myanmar and Bangladesh as part of a government-to-government agreement. According to the MoU, between 2017 and September 2022, Bangladesh has promised to purchase 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from Myanmar. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the Directorate General of Food of Bangladesh and MRF signed the sales contracts, and as per the sales contract, Myanmar will send 100,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh in each of the years 2017 and 2021.
According to the agreement between the two nations, the Ministry of Commerce of Myanamr has given an export license for 191,700 tonnes of rice that will be sent to Bangladesh. 48 firms, under the direction of the Myanmar Rice Federation, are required to export 200,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh with Chinese Yuan payment between October 2022 and January 2023 in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the rice trade. White rice (ATAP) GPCT Broken STX variety will be delivered in accordance with the contract. 2.78856 Yuan per kilogram and 2788.56 Yuan per tonne were the FOB prices.
42 export permits totaling more than 534 million Yuan were granted by the Trade Department’s Export/Import division to 41 businesses for the shipment of 191,700 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh. In September of this year, Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an MoU regarding the trading of rice. In accordance with this MoU, Bangladesh has pledged to purchase from Myanmar between 2022 and 2027 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice.
A sales agreement for 200,000 tonnes of white rice from Myanmar to be exported to Bangladesh was signed as part of the MoU by MRF and the Directorate General of Food of Bangladesh. Till October 31, 2022, Myanmar has transported more than 20,000 tonnes of white rice to Bangladesh in accordance with the sales agreements. The remainder will be sent ahead of schedule. Since September 7, 2017, rice has been traded between Myanmar and Bangladesh as part of a government-to-government agreement. According to the MoU, between 2017 and September 2022, Bangladesh has promised to purchase 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from Myanmar.
According to a G-to-G agreement, Myanmar intends to export 200,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh. Out of the 200,000 tonnes of rice that were intended to be exported, the first cargo was made directly by the Ayeyawady International Industrial Port (AIIP) at Pathein of the Ayeyawady Region from November 2 to 22.
A total of 10,565 tonnes of rice were exported by the AIIP, including 2,650 tonnes by MV MCL-7 from the Ayeya Hintha business on November 2, 2,615 tonnes by MV MCL-21 on November 7, 2,650 tonnes by MV MCL-12 on November 13, and 2,650 tonnes by MV MCL-18 on November 22. 50-kilogram bags of Emahta rice weighing 211,300 pounds were transported from the AIIP to Bangladesh. The second batch of targeted tonnes of rice is currently being exported. The Consumer Affairs Department’s Deputy Director U Tun Tun made a comment regarding the advantages of direct export to farmers and businesspeople, noting that there was a directive to export 60,000 tonnes of rice, divided into two batches of 20,000 tonnes and 40,000 tonnes.
The direct shipping benefits the state, the people living there, and the region’s economic growth. Over the next two or three weeks, a ship will also dock, he added. To guarantee the quality of the rice sent and quick transportation, the relevant ministries and export businesses are collaborating. It is known that rice mills in the Ayeyawady Region are operating in order to export high-quality rice.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar has transported around 110,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh under the government-to-government agreement.
In September of this year, Myanmar and Bangladesh signed an MoU regarding the trading of rice.
In accordance with this MoU, Bangladesh has pledged to purchase from Myanmar between 2022 and 2027 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice. A sales agreement for 200,000 tonnes of white rice from Myanmar to be exported to Bangladesh was signed as part of the Memorandum of Understanding by Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Food and Myanmar Rice Federation. As of November 28, 2022, Myanmar had supplied around 110,000 tonnes of white rice to Bangladesh in accordance with the sales agreements. Additionally, the ship is currently being loaded with more than 2,000 tonnes of rice. The remainder will be sent ahead of schedule.
48 firms, under the direction of the Myanmar Rice Federation, are required to export 200,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh with Chinese Yuan payment between October 2022 and January 2023 in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the rice trade. White rice (ATAP) GPCT Broken STX variety will be delivered in accordance with the contract. The FOB costs per kilogram and ton were 2.7885 Yuan and 2788.56 Yuan, respectively. 42 export permits totaling more than 534 million Yuan were granted by the Trade Department’s Export/Import division to 41 businesses for the shipment of 191,700 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh.
Since September 7, 2017, rice has been traded between Myanmar and Bangladesh as part of a government-to-government agreement.
Bangladesh has been buying white rice from Myanmar in accordance with their government-to-government agreement. Since 2 November 2022, the nation has shipped rice directly from Pathein Industrial City. 5,260 tonnes of rice were loaded onto the two ships in the second batch between December 1 and December 8, and the MCL-12 ship, carrying 2,650 tonnes of rice, sailed from the Ayeyawady International Industrial Port AIIP in Pathein Industrial City, Ayeyawady Region to Bangladesh early on December 8, 2022.
Prior until now, Yangon Port and Thilawa terminals in Myanmar were used to ship rice to Bangladesh. 10,565 tonnes of Aemahta rice (5% broken) were transported by four ships directly from Pathein city to Bangladesh in the first batch from November 2 to November 22, 2022. A total of 5,260 tonnes of rice were delivered by the nation, 2,610 tonnes by the MCL-19 ship on December 1 and 2,650 tonnes by the MCL-12 ship on December 8. The MCL-18 ship landed at the Ayeyawady International Industrial Port on December 7 and additional exports will be carried out.
15,825 tonnes of white rice were directly exported from Myanmar’s Ayeyawady Region to Bangladesh, with 10,565 tonnes coming in the first batch and 5,260 in the second. “Rice is Pathein Port’s principal export product. There is enough corn in the area to meet Bangladesh’s needs if it purchases it in addition to rice. In accordance with market demand, Myanmar has expressed its willingness to export grain. The second batch of rice has been shipped out. We intend to trade with international nations by exporting agricultural goods from the Ayeyawady Region. The rice shipment is being completed first for the initial stage, according to U Tun Tun, deputy head of the Ayeyawady Region Consumers Affairs Department.
Prior to this, the second shipment of rice was planned for the second week of December. However, due to improved rice production in the Ayeyawady Region, Myanmar was able to send the rice to Bangladesh in the first week. All the parties engaged in a supply chain, including the government of the Ayeyawady Region, the relevant departments, and private businesspeople, are working hard to meet Bangladesh’s demand for rice by shipping it from the area. Direct rice exports from Myanmar’s rice bowl, the Ayeyawady Region, to overseas markets create business opportunities for rice millers, farmers, and dealers as well as job chances for nearby communities.
The good news is that, despite political disagreements over how to handle Rohingya refugees, trade relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh will be normalized and strengthened. Rice’s will be brought into Bangladesh from Myanmar. Greater cooperation between Bangladesh and Myanmar could benefit the entire region and strengthen the bilateral ties.
