The National Rice Policy Committee is preparing to distribute rice in the state's stockpile before the new rice season begins four months from now, after receiving the Cabinet's approval.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said the National Rice Policy Committee is compiling a framework for exporting rice from the government's stockpile to foreign markets within two months, before the new rice season will begin four months from now.

Porntiva said that to counter the declining price of rice, rice in the stockpile must be gradually distributed to trade partners of Thailand.

She added that her ministry plans to promote Thai rice through a series of roadshows in ten countries. Many countries are in talks with Thailand about buying rice from the kingdom via a government-to-government system.

More than twenty countries are interested in buying rice from Thailand, where more than five million tons of rice are available in the government's stock.

Porntiva said her ministry will focus more on the price of stockpiled rice rather than the quantity of rice to be distributed.

By reducing the amount of stockpiled rice, the management of rice warehouses will become less difficult.

The Foreign Trade Department has been tasked with studying the framework of the management of rice stocks.

Regarding product prices, Porntiva said that no manufacturers have applied to raise prices yet.

She stated that if any manufacturers are struggling with higher production costs, they can submit their applications to raise prices to the Internal Trade Department.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry will look into how to reduce production costs and other related matters to ensure fairness for both manufacturers and consumers.

She added that her ministry plans to organize a seminar to mark the 68th anniversary of the Department of Foreign Trade on August 4th at Conventional Hall 9 in Impact Arena in Nonthaburi. The seminar will revolve around ASEAN Free Trade Area.

Source: TANN