Proposed plans to boost value of Thai rubber products

BANGKOK, June 6 (TNA) - The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAB) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) have jointly organized a seminar on Para rubber and biomass fuel in Bangkok to present ways to raise the value of local rubber products. Discussions at the seminar included policies on promoting rubber and processed rubber businesses, the production of biomass fuel and Para rubber wood pallets, the rubber tree standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the export of value-added processed rubber wood. While opening the seminar on Monday morning, RAB Chairman General Chatchalerm Chalermsuk said that his organization is tasked with helping local rubber growers, covering control on fertilizer quality and purchase of rubber with transparency, and its performance has met the government's target. Pichai Tinsuntisuk, head of FTI’s alternative energy industry club, then told the seminar that the fluctuating prices of Para rubber have caused the burden of subsidies to the Thai government, while demand for rubber remains the same. Pichai noted that Monday's seminar is focused on the business of processing old rubber wood, covering about 400,000 rais yearly (2.5 rais = 1 acre), pointing out that processed rubber products, such as wood boards and furniture, have been exported and earned national income worth more than 100 billion baht annually. Besides, sawdust and bark can be used to produce wood pallets and biomass fuel for factories. Pichai stressed that Monday's seminar showed that the golden era of Para rubber should continue in Thailand. (TNA)