Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwankhiri will head a roadshow to 10 countries from March to May with the aim of selling 2 million tonnes of rice via government-to-government contracts.

The government hopes to boost exports in order to shore up domestic rice prices as well as reduce its stockpile burden.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai is preparing the plan to promote Thai rice abroad.

The roadshow will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Libya, Senegal, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, India, Mauritius and Singapore.

A source at the ministry said the plan is to sell all types of rice: 5 per cent, 15 per cent and 25 per cent rice, sticky rice, broken rice, Pathum rice, parboiled rice and jasmine rice.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Thailand would lose more market share to Vietnam over the next year. He cited the dong's double depreciation this year, which has made Vietnamese rice cheaper on the global market.

For instance, Vietnamese 5 per cent rice is currently quoted at US$360 (Bt11,628) per tonne, against the Thai price of $500.

Due to uncompetitive pricing, Thailand's rice exports have continued to drop during the past few months.

Source: The Nation