Asean Plus Three to ink rice reserve agreement

Oct 07, 2011 (The Brunei Times) -- BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN -- Brunei and Asean member states, together with partners China, Japan and South Korea are expected to sign the Asean Plus 3 Emergency Rice Reserve (Apterr) agreement today in Jakarta during the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry meeting (AMAF).

In the agreement, Brunei, Laos and Cambodia will each contribute 3,000 tons of rice stock, while Malaysia and Singapore will provide 6,000 tons and 5,000 tons respectively.

Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar will be signing the agreement for Brunei.

This is part of an agreement among 13 countries to secure 787,000 tons of rice stock in anticipation of sudden instabilities of rice production and supply brought about by natural disasters.

Thailand as the biggest Asean contributor will provide 15,000 tons of rice stock, while Vietnam and Myanmar will each contribute 14,000 tons. Indonesia and Philippines will each provide 12,000 tons.

The Plus Three partners China, Japan and South Korea will prepare 300,000 tons, 250,000 tons and 150,000 tons, respectively. Asean countries will collectively provide 87,000 tons.

In financing the Apterr agreement, the Sultanate together with six other nations Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam will contribute each US$140,160, while Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar will each contribute US$108,217.

"The contribution is different for several countries due to their financial capacity," the AMAF organising committee chairman, Ahmad Suryana was quoted as saying by the Philippine Star.

The Plus Three nations have committed US$1.3 million for an endowment fund, and have also agreed to prepare US$391,146 to finance Apterr's office.

Ahmad added that a country has yet to be appointed to host the Apterr Secretariat.

"The rice will be disbursed only if a natural disaster occurs," Ahmad was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post.

Food security is on the top of the ministerial agenda for this year's AMAF, where focus will turn to the Asean Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework adopted by Asean leaders in 2009, the Asean-China Free Trade Area website read.

The meeting will focus on food security strategies, partnerships with China, Japan and Korea, as well as India as a newcomer to the regional bloc's meetings.

It also stated that a dialogue with representatives from the private sector will be held to exchange views on future direction to better promote the public-private partnership in addressing food security.