Now is “a good time for Vietnam’s rice shipments,” as some big exporters of the grain such as Thailand and India still haven’t tapped their markets, a local official told Thanh Nien Daily Monday.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade predicted that in 2009 and 2010 Vietnam will be experiencing difficulties regarding its exports. To overcome these difficulties, the ministry says that Vietnam will increase exports and reduce the trade deficit in 2009 and 2010, mostly via the key export markets of Vietnam.