Vietnam rice e-commerce platform trials begin

A trial run of a business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform for rice, rice products and byproducts in Vietnam commenced on Monday following the completion of a pre-feasibility study in June.

Trials will run from December 19, 2022 to May 2023. The platform is invested and operated by Agri Index JSC, a local firm in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, and is backed by Dong Thap’s Department of Industry and Trade.

The project has attracted the participation of 125 businesses from the south and eight from the north, with a current capacity of trading 20,000 tons a month and handling 100 transactions a day.

It is expected to enter official operation in March next year, connecting 300 businesses and trading 50,000 tons a month.

The platform is set to become available on mobile app Agriindex and sanphupham.vn after Ministry of Industry and Trade approval.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said the platform would further boost the development of a circular economy within the rice sector and raise the value of rice and rice products. Rice byproducts like straw and husks can be made into biomass pellets, cooking oil, and others with high added value.

The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's agricultural hub, accounting for 95% of rice output, 65% of farmed aqua goods, and 70% of exported fruits.