Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia to increase domestic rubber consumption to 10%

BANGKOK, September 16 (TNA) -- Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia will raise the consumption of local rubber from 5% to 10% of their Para rubber yields to help their farmers and will encourage Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to cooperate to increase bargaining power. Somchai Chanarongkul, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, said Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia reached the resolution in the 25th Meeting of their International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC). The meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 10 and 11, 2015. He said that the resolution would also reduce the export dependence of the three countries. The three nations agreed that rubber could be used for the construction of roads, sports fields, stable grounds and playgrounds. Besides, Malaysia requires its public hospitals to use rubber gloves. The tripartite rubber council also resolved to let market mechanisms control Para rubber prices and study the establishment of a rubber market of ASEAN. The deputy permanent secretary for agriculture also said that Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand planned to invite Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam that were considerably producing Para rubber to join the ITRC to increase their bargaining power to benefit their rubber growers. (TNA)