Over 1,000 delegates attend Thailand Rice Convention 2017

BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) - Over 1,000 rice experts, traders and journalists from more than 40 countries participate in Thailand Rice Convention 2017 (TRC 2017), held in Bangkok during May 28-30, to exchange knowledge and views on rice issues and the development of the rice industry. Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha delivered a speech, while inaugurating the TRC 2017 in the capital on May 29, that Thailand has tailored a 20-year national rice strategy to handle rice issues comprehensively in the long run, covering solutions to problems related to grains. Under the 20-year national rice strategy, the prime minister said, the Thai government has incorporated plans on restructuring the national rice production to create more balance between the country's rice production and exports and on building the capacity of Thai farmers for the sake of their sustainable self-development based on the Sufficiency Economy Principle guided by late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Besides, the Thai government has supported the setting up of community enterprises among local farmers to jointly develop and produce rice innovative products in line with the government's Thailand 4.0 policy to enhance their bargaining power and competitiveness on rice trade. The prime minister noted that Thailand has also worked together with neighboring Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam, known as the CLMV group, to create more awareness globally on the value of rice and the similar rice community style in the region. Meanwhile, a rice exhibition, themed the Rice Plus, business mathcing sessions for international rice traders and a field trip to the royal Thai rice projects are also organized as part of the three-day TRC 2017 event. (TNA)