Tyre producers urged to use Thai raw rubber

BANGKOK, August 19 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Industry has urged tyre producers to use locally-produced raw rubber to boost its prices and to assist local rubber growers. Thai Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang told journalists on Friday that she raised the issue with representatives of the Thai Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (TATMA) during a meeting with them earlier in the day. Atchaka pointed out that her proposal will also help maintain Thai rubber prices on the domestic market to a stable level, while also cushioning the quality of life of local rubber growers. The minister suggested that tyre manufacturers for all types of vehicles purchase locally-produced raw rubber regularly from local cooperatives of rubber growers. In response to the problem of personnel shortage in local tyre production plants, especially technical personnel and engineers, claimed by the TATMA representatives, the minister called on local tyre manufacturers to discuss together how existing vocational curricula should be adjusted or developed to produce more personnel to serve the domestic rubber sector and then submit their proposals to her ministry for further discussion and cooperation with local educational institutes to find practical solutions to the problem and to ensure that future vocational graduates will meet demand of the domestic rubber sector. (TNA)