DOHA (Commodity Online) : In an attempt to ensure food security, Middle East nation Qatar said it plans to invest in a 25,000 hectare rice growing project in Vietnam's Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh.

A high level experts team from the country visited Vietnam to prepare for negotiations on the project, its value has not been announced.

Trade value between Vietnam and Qatar has increased steadily over the past three years, from $30 million in 2007 to around $120 million last year.

Vietnam exports to Qatar were mainly of steel, seafood, electric cable and furniture products.

It imported liquefied petroleum gas, fertilizer and petrochemical products from the Middle Eastern country.