11:24:53 AM | 21/7/2008
Vietnam and Thailand, which are among the biggest rubber producers in Asia, have agreed to boost cooperation in rubber industry, local media reported.
The Vietnam Agriculture reported that at the meeting in HCM City July 17, Thai Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Co-operative Theerachai Saenkaew said the two countries should exchange scientific information, and cooperate in training technicians and experts in rubber industry.
&ldquoInstead of exporting raw material, we should focus on developing rubber products like tires, tube and mattress in order to increase rubber added-values,&rdquo deputy general director of the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), Pham Van Hien, said.
Bui Ba Bong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, also noted the importance of sharing information in rubber trading.
Theerachai Saenkaew said Thailand wanted to shake hands with Vietnam to ship rubber via Danang port to China, Japan and South Africa.
Thailand is now the world&rsquos biggest natural rubber producer, with annual output of three million tons, including 2.7 million tons for exports.
Vietnam now ranks 6th in the world in rubber area, the 5th in rubber output and the 3rd in exports.
The two ministries agreed to assign the VRG and Thailand Agriculture Department to take responsibility for cooperation. (Vietnam Agriculture)
Vietnamese
