India lifts rice ban on Bhutan
The government of India has lifted the March 17 ban on the import of rice by Bhutan with immediate effect. "This special gesture is being considered only to Bhutan, in view of the cordial relations between the countries,' said agriculture ministry officials. The ban is still on for other countries in the region. The March 17 ban had halted the import of popular rice brands, including BN20, Basmati and boiled rice. Bhutan imported about 50,000 metric tonnes of rice, that cost about Nu 420 million in 2005, up from 40,000 metric tonnes worth Nu 318 million in 2004.