Bangkok Post
Writer: Phusadee Arunmas
Businesses hailed the government's planned rice
trade partnership with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, but warned
any effort to jointly fix prices would not be easy.
Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters
Association, said it would be great if Thailand could share information
on rice production, technology and know-how with other producing
nations.
"This type of cooperation was proposed before, but there was no real
exchange of information and technology because Thailand was reluctant to
share such information," said Mr Chookiat. "If cooperation occurs, this
will help cut rice production costs among producing countries and help
develop rice trading zones."
Charnchai Rakthananon, president of the Thai Rice Millers
Association, added the cooperation will help raise the income of farmers
and stimulate the overall economy.
"Establishment of rice trading zones should be accelerated," he said.
"Thailand is willing to help classify the quality of rice, particularly
in Cambodia and Myanmar, where the quality and prices are much lower
than Thai grains. Higher quality rice will help raise farmers' incomes."
The cabinet approved on Monday the Commerce Ministry's plan to
develop a rice trading partnership with the countries to stabilise
international rice prices.
The pact includes meetings with government officials from all five
countries as well as representatives from the Asean rice cooperation
committee and Asean rice millers and traders' associations.
Closer commercial and governmental cooperation is expected to
stabilise rice prices in global markets, promote food security in the
region, and prevent the smuggling of rice from neighbouring countries.
It is believed rice smugglers are cashing in on Thailand's rice pledging scheme.
Tikhumporn Natvaratat, deputy director-general of the Foreign Trade
Department, said Thailand will propose the conceptual framework for the
partnership during the Asean summit on Nov 17-18 in Cambodia. He expects
it to be signed during the meeting.
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