YANGON, Jan 16: Myanmar has agreed in principle to be part of a rice “cartel” formed by Asia’s leading rice exporters aimed at regulating prices as well as stabilizing the world market, market sources here said.

Thailand, Vietnam, China, the United States, Pakistan, India and Myanmar — in that order — are the world’s leading rice exporters with annual exports totalling 18 million tons according to 2000 figures.—AFP