Myanmar could play a bigger role as a food exporter to Singapore, said Minister for National Development, Khaw Boon Wan in a blog post on Monday.

Mr Khaw was responding to Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Mohamad Maliki Osman's speech in Parliament about how the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) works closely with the food industry here to "diversify our food sources".

Mr Khaw wrote that Myanmar, which used to be a major rice exporter, is a "nearby and fertile country". He added that the Government had led a business delegation to Myanmar last year, and AVA will also facilitate partnerships between the two countries, including transferring technical expertise.

"While there are some concerns about lack of suitable infrastructure, Myanmar holds a lot of promise...Expect to see more Myanmar vegetables and seafood on our dining tables," he said.