The Prime Minister says he will take a closer look at interest to invest in the Thai farming sector by investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council. However, he reiterates that local farmers must not be affected by the investment.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva today comments on the possibility of allowing foreign investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, to invest in Thailand's farming sector.

The premier states that he has assigned related agencies to study GCC's proposed investment plan. He adds the government is in favor of promoting investment in the agricultural sector but such an initiative must not affect the competitiveness of Thai farmers.

He points out that there are rooms for foreigners to invest in ventures to develop farming technology and add values to Thai agricultural products. However, relevant Thai laws must be enforced.

When former prime minister Samak Sundaravej was in office last year, the 6 GCC nations, namely Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, expressed interest in rice cultivation and animal farming in Thailand.

During the Samak administration, Saudi Cement Company, the largest cement producer in Saudi Arabia, was invited by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to invest in Thailand's rice farming.

However, the initiative was met with widespread criticism and opposition from the public and non-governmental organization. They believed foreign investors should not be allowed to invest in the agricultural sector, especially rice farming, which they said should be reserved for Thais.

Source: TANN