The Commerce Ministry has drawn up a five-year national rice-trading strategy aimed at boosting export value and increasing the quality of Thai rice to meet demand in the global market.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai yesterday presided over an opening ceremony for the Thailand Rice Convention and World Rice Standard Summit 2011at Grand Hill Resort and Spa Hotel in Nakhon Sawan Province.

An academic seminar titled “Thai Rice: The Best Rice of the World” was hled with 500 representatives of 50 countries worldwide participating.

Porntiva said the seminar is aimed at boosting confidence of trade partners and showing Thailand’s potential as the world's top rice exporter.

The event is part of the government’s policy to promote Thailand as the world rice trade hub and held in preparation for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, which is expected to materialize in 2015.

The minister expressed confidence that the seminar will help increase the value of Thai rice exports and projected Thailand’s volume of rice exports will reach 9 to 9.5 million tons this year.

In the meantime, Commerce Ministry Permanent-Secretary Yanyong Puangrat stated that the ministry has drawn up a five-year national rice-trading strategy aimed at boosting export value.

The plan also focused on increasing quality of Thai rice, especially for jasmine rice, to meet the demand in international market.

Quality control and inspection at every stage will be implemented to guarantee the quality of Thai rice.

Source: TANN