New Delhi: Mauritius is keen to strike long-term deals with India for the import of around 33,000 tonnes of rice to keep its subsidised food programme running and to replace supplies from Pakistan, Mauritius State Trading Corporation Chairman Takesh Luckho said.

Speaking on the margins of the global rice conference here, Luckho told journalists that Pakistan became a significant rice supplier after India banned non-basmati rice exports in 2023 to bring down prices in the domestic market.

Most of the rice to Mauritius was supplied by India through long-term deals.

However, after the ban, the Mauritian government was forced to start a process of open tendering, which enabled Pakistan to enter the market. He said that they are now seeking to reverse this as India has lifted the ban. Pakist

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