KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — The Indian government yesterday approved export of 170,000 metric tonnes of non-Basmati white rice to Malaysia as mark of special friendly gesture between the two countries.
“The decision by the Government of India is reflective of the close ties between India and Malaysia and in line with India’s continued policy of supporting efforts of governments in the friendly countries towards safeguarding domestic food security,” according to the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
The decision to allow special allocation of white rice to Malaysia was conveyed by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir over a telephone call on the same day, it added.
Zambry expressed his appreciation to the Government of India for extending support to the Malaysian people in view of the current supply situation.
The necessary notification for the export of the special quota of non-white Basmati rice for Malaysia has been issued by Indian Directorate General of Foreign Trade on October 18, it added.
Since September, consumers in Malaysia have witnessed a significant increase in the price of imported white rice due to the global rice supply disruption caused by climate change and export restrictions imposed by major rice-exporting countries, including India. — Bernama
