“The Philippines has offered to buy rice. More detailed discussions are needed [for the treaty]. Currently, it imports rice mainly from Vietnam. Its market has an enormous demand for rice,” said Khin Maung Lwin, a senior official from the ministry.
The Philippines would become an excellent market for rice when the deal was made, the civil servant said.
It also offered to buy rice from Myanmar in early 2016 but failed to make a deal. As there was a price gap between Myanmar and Vietnam, the latter apparently won the tender for a rice deal.
Myanmar exported more than 80 per cent of rice to China through the Muse border centre. When Muse was attacked by rebels in late November, rice traders said they were preparing to export more rice by sea.
Myanmar exports rice to 33 countries and more consignments went to the African market this year.
The country produced 13.5 million baskets of rice during the last fiscal year.
The Myanmar government said it was working with experts, exporters and farmers to export more rice in the coming years. – Myanmar Eleven

Auto Lao receives the
Mercedes-Benz Star Award
Known as the first company to import the Mercedes-Benz brand name from Germany to Laos in 1957, Auto Lao has received the Mercedes-Benz Star Award – Best Start in Van Business – South East Asia 2016.
“It was a great honour and pleasure to accept the award in recognition of the work the company has done to improve itself in Laos, especially exceeding our vans sales target to customers,” Auto Lao general manager Anolack Thammavong said.
Auto Lao has developed strategies to engender trust in its customers, including convenient and fast service, and high standards of this brand name.
“We are now launching our hotline 1868 to provide customers with 24-hour service and they don’t need to worry and wait any longer if their vehicle has technical problems or related issues,” he said. – Vientiane Times