Thailand Rice Convention 2015 to be organised May 19-21

BANGKOK, May 12 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Commerce, will organise "Thailand Rice Convention 2015" from May 19-21 to cement the Kingdom's status as a top world quality rice producing and exporting country with international standards on nutrition and hygiene. Duangporn Rodphayat, Director General of the ministry's Department of Foreign Trade, told journalists on Tuesday that the world-class academic forum, to be chaired by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha himself, will be held at IMPACT Trade and Exhibition Convention Centre in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok. Duangporn said she expects up to 500 participants from both relevant public and private agencies of at least 40 countries, including those in the production, trade and export processes, covering the upstream, midstream and downstream ones, will participate in the three-day international forum, themed “Think Rice Think Thailand….Serving the Best Quality Rice to the World”. According to the senior official, her commerce ministry will also take the opportunity to strengthen trade ties with the participating countries. The senior official noted that the upcoming Thailand Rice Convention is also part of the government's plan to expand Thai rice markets globally to concretely boost the economic value of the Thai grains internationally. (TNA)