Cambodia To Export Rice To Brunei

Friday, 14 August 2009
Borneo Bulletin

Bandar Seri Begawan - Cambodia reached an agreement on Tuesday with Brunei Darussalam to export 1,500 tonnes of prime-grade milled rice, an official confirmed Wednesday.

According to the spokesman for the Council of Ministers, Phay Siphan, the deal was struck between Brunei Ambassador Pengiran Haji Ismail and Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, but declined to provide details of the agreement, The Phnom Penh Post reported.

"At this time, Brunei has not expressed its long term intent to secure rice exports, but has agreed to purchase 1,500 tonnes of milled rice from a local producer," said Phay Siphan, who referred any additional questions on the deal to the Brunei Embassy.

A member of the Brunei Embassy in Phnom Penh also declined Wednesday to provide details of the scope and duration of the agreement.

But two local companies said they have received inquiries from Brunei officials about the purchase of rice, though no formal sale has yet been secured.

Phou Puy, the Head of Cambodia's Rice Milling Association, said he was contacted by Brunei officials about yearly purchases or top-grade rice - which sells for about US$780 million per tonne.

"This would be our first sale of rice to Brunei, and I think they are currently researching prices," he said.

Cambodia to export rice to Brunei

Thursday, August 28, 2008

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): President of the Alliance of Cambodian Rice Millers Association Phuoy Puy said Cambodia is preparing to export 50,000 to 70,000 tons of high quality rice to Brunei, local newspaper the Cambodia Daily reported Thursday.

Phuoy Puy said that he and Rural Development Bank President Sun Kunthor met Brunei Finance Ministry Secretary-General Dato Tado Kahazi Alidine Hazaipong on Tuesday, the newspaper said.

The Brunei official said that so far, his country have purchased rice from Vietnam and Thailand, but now wishes to buy rice in Cambodia, Phuoy Puy said.

The Brunei Finance Ministry secretary-general also met Cambodia 's Finance Minister Keat Chhon on Monday to discuss the plan and request Keat Chhon to help facilitate the export process, according to the newspaper.

Keat Chhon said they discussed possible Brunei investment in Cambodia in the future.

Brunei negotiates for rice imports from Cambodia says local media

Wed, 27 Aug 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - A delegation from the Brunei Finance Ministry met with Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon to discuss importing Cambodian rice and seed, local media reported Wednesday. The delegation, headed by Brunei Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Dato Paduka Haj Ali Apong, had not reached any firm agreements on the amount of rice and seed Brunei would require or how soon, but that discussions went well, according to Khmer-language Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper.

The delegation is also scheduled to meet the Cambodian commerce and agriculture ministers as well as the Rural Development Bank and the Rice Millers Association of Cambodia, the paper said.

It did not state a scheduled duration for the visit.

Cambodia has said it aims to be a major rice exporter in the region, matching the current leader Thailand by 2015, and in recent months has negotiated with African nations, including Guinea, as well as Gulf states Kuwait and Qatar.

Brunei is a fellow of Cambodia in the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations and has already provided advice on tapping potential offshore oil reserves.

Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah visited Cambodia in April last year and the two countries have strong bilateral ties.