Thailand Holds Annual 2013 Rice Convention, ‘Pushing ASEAN Towards the World’s Rice Hub’
CHIANGMAI, THAILAND. May 26-28, 2013. The Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, hosted Thailand Rice Convention 2013 between 26 and 28 May 2013 in the northern province of Chiang Mai which our Commercial Minister, Ms. Benchawan Ukrid attended.
Participating in the convention were 500 delegates from 40 countries worldwide. They comprised representatives from rice-producing and exporting countries, rice importers and traders, academics, and rice experts, as well as members of the Thai and international media.
The convention is intended to serve as a forum for players in rice trade to meet and exchange views, which will contribute to the development of the global rice industry. It provided an opportunity for rice importers and exporters to hold trade negotiations, as well.
Moreover, the Thailand Rice Convention is also meant to bring a positive signal to the global rice trade and spotlight Thailand’s readiness to become a rice hub in ASEAN and the world. It showcases the quality and efficiency of technological advances in production, trade, and development of the Thai rice industry.
The theme for Thailand Rice Convention 2013 is “Pushing ASEAN toward the World’s Rice Hub,” which reflects Thailand’s intention to cooperate with other rice countries in the region to make ASEAN the world’s rice center.
Thailand is among the world’s largest rice producers and exporters. Thai jasmine rice, known in full as “Khao Hom Mali Thung Kula Ronghai,” has become the first product in Southeast Asia to be registered under the European Union’s Protected Geographical Indication scheme.
The Department of Foreign Trade has set a target of 8.5 million tons for Thai rice exports in 2013. The Ministry of Commerce is also conducting a study on the creation of a rice trade zone in order to stabilize rice prices in the world market, promote regional food security on a sustainable basis, and prevent rice smuggling from the countries sharing borders with Thailand.
From the Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, DC
[dcs_link icon=”download”
url=”http://www.commercethaiusa.org/oca/wp-content/uploads/ENewsletters/OCANewsletterMay13.pdf”]Please download the full newsletter here[/dcs_link].