Cambodian, Chinese firms sign cassava purchase agreement

[TMCnet.com]

PHNOM PENH, Aug 14, 2011 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The China National Food Industry (Group) Corp and Cambodia's Le Ye Rubber Co. on Sunday signed a cassava purchase deal.

The agreement was signed between Cai Yongfeng, the president of China National Food Industry Group, and Gao Hong Zhi, CEO of Le Ye Rubber Co.

"If the quality of Cambodian cassava chips is standard enough for Chinese market, we will purchase up to one million tons of dried cassava chips a year from Cambodia," Cai said.

Currently, China needs more than 8 million tons of tapioca chips per year. 6.5 million tons are imported from Thailand and the rest from Vietnam, he said.

Kith Seng, Undersecretary of State for the Ministry of Agriculture, said the government of Cambodia fully supported the agreement between the two companies.

"It's a good step toward the development of cassava crop in Cambodia and the two companies' cooperation agreement will rid Cambodian farmers of concerns about the market for their cassava product," he told the signing ceremony.

"The agreement also helps to boost Cambodian agriculture and to develop Cambodian economy," he added.