Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Asian rice market uncertain ahead of meeting on possible cartel

A Cambodian man prepares sacks of rice for transport to the main market at Tram Knar village in Kampong Speu province about 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday March 29, 2008. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Heng Sinith

CBC News
May 5, 2008
Canadian Press: Paul Alexander
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Development Bank says a billion poor people in Asia require food aid to help them cope with skyrocketing food prices.

Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda, speaking as the bank opened its two-day annual meeting in Madrid, says an erosion of purchasing power has put Asia's poor at risk of hunger and malnutrition.

His remarks came as officials of four rice-exporting countries - Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar - prepared to meet Tuesday to discuss creating a cartel to control the staple grain.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen says that unlike the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, the purpose of the rice cartel would be to ensuring stability in the rice market.

He says cartel members would address food shortages both regionally and around the world, and have no intention of hoarding or using their power to drive up prices.

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