Opening remarks by Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan At the International Conference "Pathways to develop quality rice in Vietnam"

Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen! First of all let me on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam to warmly welcome you all, international and in country delegates to attend the conference on "Pathways to develop high quality rice in Vietnam" This is a very important conference in the sequence of events the Second Vietnam Rice Festival in 2011, was held in Soc Trang province. The presence of Representatives at the Conference expresses its deep concern to rice production in Vietnam. Please be solid thanks and best wishes you all your health and a conference a success. Ladies and gentlemen! Speaking of Vietnam's agriculture can not speak without mention to the rice. This is an important industry, it has a history of thousands of years. The essence of the rice industry has made important contribution to the values of culture, traditions and reinforced by the Vietnamese nation. Continuously for about 25 years, Vietnam rice production has witnessed a marvelous development in terms of yield, quality, policy mechanisms and science and technology, production and marketing, productivity and efficiency; to Vietnam from a food deficit countries and import rose to ensure national food security and increase exports in every year. In recent years continuously, productivity was higher year after year about 1 million tons. In 2011, although the unusual and natural disasters, but will be a year of rice production and export highest ever. There were these achievements thanks to the great interest of the Government of Vietnam in the investment and issuance of policies on land, production, research, science and technology transfer, credit, market schools; the great contribution of farmers, scientists, managers, domestic and foreign entrepreneurs. However, rice production in Vietnam still limited, but at the same time is still much potential for further development towards increased productivity, quality, efficiency and sustainability.

Organizing this conference, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, localities to grow rice in the country, especially provinces of the Mekong Delta would like to get more opinions, suggestions, constitutional design of you on all matters related to helping the agricultural sector and rural development in Vietnam, Vietnam government plans strategy, mechanisms and policies; scientific and technological processing, post-harvest preservation, trade promotion and market expansion aiming to put the Viet Nam rice industry continues to grow, ensuring national food security, increase income, improve living conditions for rice farmers, an important contribution to ensure world food security. In that spirit, I declare opening the International Conference "Pathways to develop high quality rice in Vietnam" Once again, I would like to thank the delegates, and wish the workshop success.