Decision No. 237/1999/QD-TTg On rice export management and fertilizer import in 2000

Pursuant to …;

On the management of rice exports and fertilizer imports in 2000

_________________________

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,

Pursuant to …;:

I. ON RICE EXPORTS

Article 1. Approves the export target for rice in 2000 at 4.30 million tons, excluding rice produced in the Northern and Central regions, and allocated as follows:

a) Enterprises responsible for exporting rice in the Mekong Delta provinces and Ho Chi Minh City: 2.90 million tons (including state-owned enterprises responsible for exporting rice under the provincial people's committees of the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City, subsidiaries of the Southern Food Corporation; other economic sectors' enterprises in this area).

b) State-owned corporations, central companies, and foreign-invested enterprises operating in the production and processing of exported rice: 1.20 million tons.

c) Enterprises outside the main exporters (of all economic sectors) finding new markets: 0.20 million tons.

The targets set forth in points a and b of this Article shall be assigned immediately to implement from January 1, 2000 (as Appendix No. 01 attached to this Decision).

Article 2. Regarding the allocation of rice export targets for 2000:

a) The allocation and adjustment of rice export targets for units mentioned in Section a of Article 1 of this Decision shall be specifically decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city within the total target assigned to each province and city. The Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city shall only assign targets to main rice exporting enterprises.

Entrusted exports shall be carried out according to Article 9, Section 2, Chapter 1 of Decree No. 57/1998/NĐ-CP dated July 31, 1998 of the Government. The Ministry of Trade shall provide general guidance for implementation.

b) The allocation and adjustment of targets for units mentioned in Section b of Article 1 of this Decision shall be specifically decided by the Ministry of Trade in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

c) Assign the Ministry of Trade to consider allowing enterprises outside the main exporters to export rice to new markets based on specific contracts with favorable prices and trading conditions.

Article 3. Exporting rice produced in the Northern and Central provinces:

Encourage the export of rice produced in the Northern and Central provinces. Enterprises of all economic sectors with customers and markets may export rice at Northern and Central ports. The Ministry of Trade shall provide specific guidance to ensure domestic consumption market stability and effective exports.

Article 4. On market management and orientation:

To stabilize and ensure concentrated markets, the Ministry of Trade shall take the lead, together with the Steering Committee for Rice Exports and Fertilizer Imports (established by Decision No. 20/1999/QĐ-TTg dated February 13, 1999 of the Prime Minister) and the Vietnam Food Association, to be responsible for dispatching main exporting enterprises to negotiate, sign contracts, and allocate targets to implement these contracts, ensuring transparency and effectiveness.

Assign the Ministry of Trade to promptly promote the signing of government-level agreements with the aforementioned concentrated markets, gradually increasing the volume of Vietnamese rice directly exported to these markets.

Article 5. For rice exports under the plan to repay debts, provide aid, and settle import payments by the Government, assign the Ministry of Planning and Investment to coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to arrange specifically and inform the Ministry of Trade so that the Ministry of Trade can assign main exporting enterprises to negotiate and sign contracts with each country. The Ministry of Trade and the Steering Committee for Rice Exports and Fertilizer Imports and the Vietnam Food Association shall organize the allocation of signed contracts to main exporting enterprises to implement them, ensuring transparency and effectiveness.

II. ON IMPORTING FERTILIZERS.

Article 6. Main enterprises engaged in importing fertilizers of various types permitted for sale in Vietnam according to production and business needs shall bear responsibility for the business results of fertilizers themselves, and the state will not cover losses.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall coordinate with the Ministry of Trade to announce the demand for fertilizers of various types for each crop season and region, and world market fertilizer prices, so that enterprises can plan to import and trade fertilizers proactively and effectively.

Article 7. The importation of NPK fertilizers, molten phosphates, and superphosphates shall only be allowed to commence from April 1, 2000, after the import tax rate (or surcharge) for these fertilizers has been adjusted. Assign the Ministry of Finance and the Government Price Board to promptly submit to the Prime Minister for decision on the import tax rate (or surcharge) to be implemented from April 1, 2000.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

Article 8. Based on this Decision, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of the Mekong Delta provinces and Ho Chi Minh City shall issue decisions allocating rice export targets to main rice exporting enterprises in their respective provinces and cities as specified in Section a of Article 1 of this Decision, and notify the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Steering Committee for Rice Exports and Fertilizer Imports, the General Customs Department, and relevant agencies for coordination in management.

Additional allocations of rice export targets (outside the initial targets assigned at the beginning of the year) for enterprises mentioned in Section a of Article 1 of this Decision shall be decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally-run city after consultation with the Ministry of Trade and notification to the General Customs Department; for enterprises mentioned in Section b of Article 1 of this Decision, it shall be decided by the Minister of Trade and notified to the General Customs Department.

Article 9. The Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and cities, and Ministers of relevant Ministries shall base on the export targets for rice and the demand for fertilizers (as guided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) to directly manage the export of rice and import of fertilizers by their subordinate enterprises; ensure timely sale of all commercial rice at prices beneficial to farmers, ensuring the floor price when announced by the Government; ensure stability in domestic food prices and fertilizer prices, and effective import and export operations.

Article 10. The export quotas for rice and import limits for fertilizers assigned for the year 1999 shall be valid until December 31, 1999.

For contracts being executed in 1999, they are permitted to continue and be counted towards the targets for the year 2000.

Article 11. The Steering Committee for Exporting Rice and Importing Fertilizers is tasked with coordinating with the Vietnam Foodstuff Association and the Government Price Board to announce and guide market conditions and world market prices; compile and guide transaction prices for businesses to refer to, aiming to ensure business efficiency and prevent price suppression.

Article 12. Based on this Decision, the Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees or the Ministers of the Ministry of Trade, upon deciding specific rice export targets for enterprises, the General Department of Customs shall provide general guidance for local customs offices to process export procedures.

Article 13. The State Bank shall direct commercial banks to allocate sufficient funds to ensure that enterprises have adequate and timely capital to purchase rice and import fertilizers. In cases where commercial banks lack sufficient funds, the State Bank shall take measures to support commercial banks to have sufficient funds for lending.

Article 14. The Government Price Board is tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the State Bank of Vietnam, and the Ministry of Finance, based on production conditions, to report to the Prime Minister for determination of the floor price before the harvest season and the financial mechanism to ensure implementation of the decided floor price.

Article 15. The Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Trade, Planning and Investment, Finance, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Head of the Government Price Board, Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees, Head of the Steering Committee for Exporting Rice and Importing Fertilizers, and Chairman of the Vietnam Foodstuff Association shall regularly report to the Prime Minister on the results of rice exports and fertilizer imports, and propose necessary solutions to ensure fertilizer needs for production and the sale of all commercial rice to farmers.

Article 16. This Decision takes effect from the date of signing. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees are responsible for guiding and implementing this Decision.