KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian government announced yesterday that it will approve the export of 170,000 metric tonnes of Non-Basmati white rice to Malaysia as a mark of special friendly gesture between the two countries.
This comes after the Malaysian government forwarded a request for an allocation of a special quota of white rice on government to government basis, and in view of the enhanced strategic partnership between both India and Malaysia as well as the strong bilateral ties in the food and agriculture sector between the two countries.
The decision by the Indian government to allow for the special allocation of white rice to Malaysia was conveyed by India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in a telephone call yesterday with his Malaysian counterpart, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Zambry expressed his appreciation to Jaishankar and the Indian government for extending support to Malaysia in view of the current situation in the country.
On October 2, the New Straits Times highlighted that (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/962144/mohamad-outcome-g2g-ta...) Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said discussions among representatives from the Indian and Malaysian governments took place over issues regarding the rice export restrictions imposed by India.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also made a call to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the matter.
India, the world's biggest rice exporter, had banned the export of non-Basmati white rice and imposed a 20 per cent tax on parboiled rice in a move seen as a measure to protect its domestic supply earlier this year.
Yesterday it was also reported that seven countries were provided an exemption to import white rice from India despite the current ban.
Apart from Malaysia, the other six countries are Nepal, the Philippines, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the Republic of Guinea and Seychelles.
In August, India had granted rice exports to Singapore, Mauritius and Bhutan.