PM:Thailand will maintain world top rice exporter status

BANGKOK, December 19 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha says he believes that Thailand will maintain as the world's top rice exporter, as his government will try to release rice from state warehouses nationwide, at periods considered most appropriate for maximum national benefits, within three years. General Prayut made the assessment on Friday, after chairing a meeting of the National Rice Policy Committee to discuss several relevant issues, including a large amount of state rice stocks. According to the prime minister, Thailand's total amount of rice at state warehouses now stands at 17.89 million tonnes, including 2.3 million tonnes of grade A grains, 14.4 million tonnes of grade B grains which do not meet required standards set by the Ministry of Commerce and 694,000 tonnes of grade C rotten grains. The prime minister conceded that about 390,000 tonnes of rice have disappeared from state warehouses. The prime minister stated that Thailand will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to sell two million tonnes of rice on a government-to-government (G-to-G) basis during his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang's ongoing visit to Thailand to attend the 5th Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Summit, set from December 19-20. Besides, Bangkok and Beijing will also sign another MOU on cooperation on the construction of dual rail tracks in Thailand by selected Chinese firms. (TNA)