Thailand, Vietnam are developing their rice cooperation

NONTHABURI, June 21 (TNA) -- The Department of Foreign Trade and Thai rice exporters together with Vietnamese rice authorities are developing bilateral cooperation on rice trade for mutual benefits. Adul Chotinisakorn, director-general of the department, said officials of the Commerce Ministry and his department as well as Thai rice exporters met representatives of the Vietnamese food sector in Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province recently to discuss Thai-Vietnamese rice trade cooperation. Participants discussed rice situations and their policies. They acknowledged that both countries were developing their rice varieties to meet market demand. Vietnam expects to export 6.2 million tons of rice this year while Thailand predicts its rice export at 10 million tons. Meeting participants foresee higher rice demand from Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and African countries in the second half of this year. Meanwhile, China will slow down its importation of Thai and Vietnamese rice because it is importing Myanmar rice through their border. Thailand and Vietnam, as major rice exporters, hoped the meeting would benefit their rice policies and the stability of their rice prices and lead to concrete cooperation on rice and mutual rice competitiveness, Mr Adul said. (TNA)