THAILAND and Malaysia are collaborating on the Rubber City project aimed at developing the rubber industries of both countries.
There are high hopes for the said project, and shoring up prices in Thailand – a major issue that has elicited widespread farmers protests in the country – may benefit from its establishment, according to Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn.
Niwatthamrong and the Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Dato Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed on trade and investment cooperation, had recently discussed on the project, and especially in terms of Halal and Para rubber industries.
Thailand is Malaysia’s major supplier of raw materials; the project will reinforce Thailand’s support to Malaysia’s industries, specifically the gloves and tyre industries. In turn, Thailand has sought the help of Malaysia to address the logistics problem concerning the shipment of certain types of goods via Malaysia to Singapore.
The project will be located on the Thai-Malaysian border: In Malaysia, the rubber city will be sited in Kota Putra in Kedah and in Thailand, its Rubber City will be put up at the Na Thawi district in Songkhla province.
A second Joint Trade Commission meeting will take place later this yeat or early next in Chiang Mai to discuss further the project.