Laos supports Thailand and Vietnam to set up association of rice exporting countries

BANGKOK, 15 August 2009 (NNT) – Laos voiced its support in a recent bilateral talk with Thailand as part of the 41st ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) and related meetings to set up an association of rice exporting countries.

Mr Chaiya Yimvilai, Chaiman of the Advisory Board for Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, said Lao Industry and Commerce Minister Nam Viyaketh expressed his support, when meeting Mrs. Porntiva this morning, to have Thailand and Vietnam take the lead to establish the association within 2010.

Mr Chaiya said the association would involve members of the Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy (ACMECS) Group, consisting of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

In the bilateral agreement, Mr. Chaiya said Laos also showed its support to Thailand to invest in rice production in its 2-million-hectare agricultural areas.

At the moment, around 200,000 hectares or 1,250,000 rais of farmlands in Laos have been leased to Kuwait for investments in rice production.