Business | Markets
No rice black market in UAE, says minister
Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri denied reports of a rice black market, saying that rice is widely available in the UAE.
- By Suzanne Fenton, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:07 July 9, 2008
Dubai: Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri denied reports of a rice black market, saying that rice is widely available in the UAE.
"I think the answers are here...We are happy to receive these kind of reports and act quickly to stabilise these issues," he said.
He also dismissed the idea that basmati rice is currently unavailable in the UAE.
"I believe basmati rice is available. The UAE is, at present, importing close to 800,000 tonnes a year, which I don't consider to be a big quantity. It is manageable," Al Mansouri said.
He said that many countries, including India and Pakistan are now trying to protect their own rice stocks.
The minister said he was happy that prices of certain products were at 2007 prices.
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