Thailand pledges to foster free trade and refrain from any market intervention in both the domestic and global rice markets, ready to cooperate with rice producers and consumers in all countries to upgrade trade and quality.
Speaking at the 14th World Rice Conference held in Phuket yesterday, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said all rice-importing countries can rest assured prices will be based only on the market.
In September, a local report said Thailand and Vietnam reached an accord aimed at raising the price of locally-produced rice in the global market amid soaring costs for farmers. A month later Vietnam disavowed any reported deal.
The countries' agriculture ministries "have only conducted general cooperation activities", according to Vietnamese Agriculture Minister Le Minh Hoan.
Thailand and Vietnam combined account for 10% of global production of rough rice and 26% of global exports, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Thailand is the world's fourth-largest rice producer (20 million tonnes), following China (147 million tonnes), India (124 million tonnes) and Vietnam (27 million tonnes).
Thai rice exports are expected to reach 7.5 million tonnes this year, up from 6.11 million tonnes last year.
Mr Jurin affirmed Thai rice is among the best quality grains in the world, with Thai rice varieties winning seven times out of 13 contests organised by the US-based trade publication Rice Trader.
He said the government vowed to strengthen Thailand's reputation as the world's best producer of quality rice through a strategic plan stretching from 2020 to 2024, using it as part of a marketing-led production strategy.
The plan aims to upgrade Thailand to become the world leader in the production and marketing of premium rice.
Under the plan, Thailand wants to develop 12 new commercial rice varieties by 2024 to bolster export competitiveness.
