Thailand to develop rubber innovations

BANGKOK, August 18 (TNA) - Thailand plans to develop more innovative rubber products for commercial use and exports to neighbouring countries in the ASEAN Community (AC). Thai Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Wisanu Kruangam on Thursday presided over a ceremony to sign a memorandum of technical cooperation between King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAT) and the National Farmers Council (NFC) on the purposes. Under the agreement, the trio will work together to support the development of personnel, academics and researchers to become rubber specialists in quality control of innovative rubber products, particularly those practically-beneficial to local farmers, and processed rubber products, as well as the management of raw rubber materials, the processing of rubber to become innovative products and logistics in the rubber sector. The deputy minister suggested that such the cooperation be further developed to the national level. On the occasion, the deputy premier insisted on the government's policy on supporting the Thai rubber industry and the implementation of the Rubber City Project, which has been on well-progress. RAT Governor Dr. Theetat Suksa-ard said, meanwhile, that RAT is ready to fully promote and support the development of innovative rubber products, like the one used to make roads with its expanding demand anticipated in the future. Besides, the innovative rubber product and others are expected to have rising demand with considerable exports to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, known as the growing CLMV grouping in the AC. (TNA)