New talks on G2G rice deal with China
THE GOVERNMENT plans to renegotiate with China deals for the sale of rice and other agricultural products after deciding to go it alone in the Bangkok to Nong Khai high-speed rail project instead of engaging in a joint venture with the economic powerhouse
Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said she would lead a Thai delegation for a mission to Beijing on Thursday and Friday to discuss with Chinese representatives the agricultural deals.
Apiradi said the main aim was to sell more rice to China following this month’s end of the current rice contract with China under a government-to-government deal.
The one million tonnes of rice negotiated under that contract commenced early last year.
Apiradi said she aimed to negotiate the sale of another one million tonnes of rice to China.
Transport Ministry representatives will be in China from Wednesday to Friday to discuss the high-speed rail project.
Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent-secretary to the Commerce Ministry, said the mission also aimed to negotiate the sale of other agricultural crops including rubber and tapioca.
To promote sales of rice, the ministry will send a delegation to South Africa and Mozambique in June.
It will also discuss the sale of other products while there.
Chutima said these two countries had a strong demand for rice as it was now a major staple and they should become gateways for Thailand to penetrate central African countries such as Angola with rice sales.
Mozambique used to import about 600,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand a year.
Chutima said Thailand was expected to export 9.5 million tonnes this year due to high demand in many markets because of drought.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association said Thailand exported 2.85 million tonnes in first quarter, a 34-per-cent increase on the same period last year, while the export value increased by 23 per cent year on year to Bt44 billion.
