Iran to buy Thai agricultural products

BANGKOK, November 26 (TNA) - Iran is keen to buy rice, rubber and several other agricultural products from Thailand. Hailing his visit to Iran last week, Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee on Thursday told journalists of the information he learned during his trip. Suvit said the Iranian and the Thai sides also agreed to organise a Joint Commission in February 2016 in Tehran during Thai Deputy Prime Ministers General Prawit Wongsuwan and Somkid Jatusripitak's visit to Iran to strengthen bilateral relations. Suvit pointed out that Thailand could become a door to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for Iran, while Iran could be a door for Thailand to expand markets into countries in the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Suvit stressed that Iran is interested in importing Thai rice, as the Iranians consume about 3 million tonnes of rice annually while the country could produce about half of the demand and needs to, thus, import the rest mostly from India and Pakistan. Suvit noted that he has invited Iranian rice importers to visit Thailand to inspect local rice production processes and its quality. According to the deputy commerce minister, Thailand is ready to sell rice to Iran and to also cooperate with Tehran in the tourism, energy and construction sectors. During his last week's visit to Tehran, the Thai deputy commerce minister revealed, Iran placed purchasing orders, totally worth about 3.6 million baht, from accompanied Thai business operators, with purchase orders expected to increase to reach 260 million baht within a year. Iran is, meanwhile, projected to also import Thai natural rubber, worth about 54 million baht, within a year, thanks to the country's position as a major vehicle tyre producer in the Middle East. (TNA)