Marubeni of Japan plans joint rice

[FreeBurma@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Marubeni of Japan plans joint rice venture with SLORC 

    TOKYO, Dec 25 (Reuter) - Japanese trade house Marubeni Corp <8002.T> said
on Wednesday it and the Burmese government are planning to launch a joint
venture in Burma by next spring to produce rice for feed. 

    The joint venture is likely to start production on a trial basis in 1997
and will export the rice to neighbouring Asian countries, the Marubeni
spokesman said. 

    "The final decision has not been made yet. But we're considering
investing nearly $1.5 million for this joint venture," he said. 

    He did not give a specific production target. 

    Burma's lower grain production costs and suitable climate for rice
production were the reasons the Japanese trade house considered that country,
he said. 

    -- Tokyo Commodity Desk (81-3-3432-7391) 

22:06 12-24-96