Decision No. 141/TTg on the management of rice exports and urea fertilizer imports in 1997

Article 1. The export quota of 2.5 million tons of rice is allocated once to be implemented from March to September 1997, including approximately 150,000 tons reserved to supplement and encourage provinces and enterprises with effective export performance, based on the proposal of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Rice Export Management and Fertilizer Import established under Article 8 of this Decision.

In September 1997, based on production conditions and export results, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Trade will report to the Government Chairman for consideration of the possibility of increasing the rice export quota for 1997.

Article 2. The organization of rice exports is determined as follows:

a) Prioritize allocation of rice export capacity suitable to the exporting capabilities of key enterprises operating in provinces permitted to directly export rice in 1996.

b) For provinces with annual commercial rice output exceeding 1 million tons, under the guidance of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall consider and decide to supplement one enterprise to directly export rice if necessary and that enterprise meets the required conditions. Based on the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee's recommendation, the Ministry of Trade will issue a business license to the enterprise.

Specifically for Can Tho Province, apart from the enterprise already directly exporting rice within the province, the Song Hau Farm is allowed to directly export rice for pilot testing the model linking production with rice and grain export business.

c) For Binh Tre and Ca Mau Provinces, under the guidance of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall consider and decide to supplement one enterprise to directly export rice if it meets the required conditions, or delegate to one of the enterprises authorized to directly export rice to handle agency exports.

Article 3. Approve the rice export quotas assigned to provinces and central enterprises according to Appendix 1 attached to this Decision.

The specific allocation of quotas for enterprises within the province (for direct export or agency export) is determined according to the principle set out in Article 2 of this Decision, decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee after consulting the Southern Foodstuff Corporation.

Article 4. The import limit of 1.5 million tons of urea and other types of fertilizers in 1997 is allocated once in March 1997, allowing provinces and central enterprises to proactively import and supply fertilizers for production.

Article 5. Approve the urea fertilizer import limits assigned to provinces and central enterprises according to Appendix 2 attached to this Decision.

For other types of fertilizers requiring importation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will consult with the Ministry of Trade to balance supply for each production area and assign to provinces and central enterprises at Appendix 2 to implement in March 1997.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee decides on the enterprise assigned to import fertilizer within the province.

Article 6. For provincial enterprises engaged in rice export and fertilizer import, under the guidance of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee must carefully select enterprises meeting the required conditions to ensure the fulfillment of assigned targets and bear responsibility before the Government Chairman for their decisions.

After issuing specific decisions, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committees must inform the Ministry of Trade, General Customs Department, State Bank of Vietnam, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the names of provincial enterprises authorized to export rice and import fertilizer and their respective quotas in March 1997.

Article 7. Provincial People's Committees must regularly coordinate with the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, strictly guiding provincial enterprises and major central trading corporations to purchase all commercial rice from farmers, effectively export, and timely supply agricultural inputs at reasonable prices; combining grain and rice trade with fertilizer supply and other services for agriculture, aiming to implement the Government Chairman's policy on grain and fertilizer trade as stated in Decision No. 140/TTg dated March 7, 1997.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee must monitor and take responsibility for the implementation of assigned export-import targets by enterprises within the province; prohibit any form of sale, transfer of quotas. If an enterprise cannot fulfill its assigned target, it must promptly report to the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to request the Government Chairman to adjust and assign to another enterprise.

Article 8. Assign the Ministry of Trade to establish an Inter-Ministerial Working Group, chaired by a Deputy Minister of Trade, with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance, the Government Price Board, the Government Office, and major enterprises in rice and fertilizer trade, to manage the operations of these two sectors.

Monthly meetings must be organized by the Working Group to promptly address arising issues, report detailed implementation status of enterprises; in cases exceeding the authority of ministries and sectors, the Ministry of Trade will report to the Government Chairman for instructions.

Article 9. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees are responsible for implementing this Decision./.