ID :
138037
Tue, 08/17/2010 - 15:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/138037
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Thailand to develop sugar cane, rubber plantations in Sri Lanka
BANGKOK, Aug 17 - Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives cooperates with Sri Lanka in developing sugar cane and rubber plantations in an attempt to develop trade and investment between the two countries and to expand opportunities in agro-industry investment.
Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut said after meeting with Sri Lankan Plantation Industries Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe, that the island nation was greatly interested in developing such plantation with Thailand, which is ready to provide academic knowledge on the subject.
Currently, Thailand has 6.3 million rai of farm land planted in sugar cane, and produces 69 million tonnes of sugar cane annually. Of the overall production, 6.9 million tonnes were made as sugar, 2.1 million tonnes were for domestic consumption, and 4.8 million tonnes for export.
Thailand's trading partners for sugar cane are Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
For rubber trees, Mr Theera said Thailand has 16.89 million rai under rubber, creating continous activities for both industrial and market sectors.
Thailand has a positive balance of trade with Sri Lanka. In 2009, Thailand exports agricultural goods of around Bt3.3 billion (US$103 million) to Sri Lanka, an increase from Bt1.9 billion (US$59 million) in 2007, while it imported only Bt77 million (US$2.4 million) from the country last year, from a previous amount of Bt196 million (US$6 million) in 2007.
According to the Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Thailand's important agricultural exports to Sri Lanka are sugar, seafood, seasoning items, herbs and spices, while imported merchandise from the South Asian country is mostly grain and cereal products, worth around Bt53 million (US$1.6 million).
Mr Theera added that several types of Thai processed items such as processed fruits, canned coconut milk, processed seafood and tapioca flour are in a high demand and have a bright future in the Sri Lankan market.
Also, machinery used in farming and in the agro-industry, which was produced by Thai primary technology, can also penetrate this market, said the minister; for instance, threshers, coir peelers, electric generators, and oxygen generators for shrimp farms.
Sri Lanka has ample marine resources for Thailand to co-invest with the country in coastal fisheries as well as setting up a factory to process and package seafood products, said Mr Theera. (MCOT online news)
Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut said after meeting with Sri Lankan Plantation Industries Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe, that the island nation was greatly interested in developing such plantation with Thailand, which is ready to provide academic knowledge on the subject.
Currently, Thailand has 6.3 million rai of farm land planted in sugar cane, and produces 69 million tonnes of sugar cane annually. Of the overall production, 6.9 million tonnes were made as sugar, 2.1 million tonnes were for domestic consumption, and 4.8 million tonnes for export.
Thailand's trading partners for sugar cane are Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
For rubber trees, Mr Theera said Thailand has 16.89 million rai under rubber, creating continous activities for both industrial and market sectors.
Thailand has a positive balance of trade with Sri Lanka. In 2009, Thailand exports agricultural goods of around Bt3.3 billion (US$103 million) to Sri Lanka, an increase from Bt1.9 billion (US$59 million) in 2007, while it imported only Bt77 million (US$2.4 million) from the country last year, from a previous amount of Bt196 million (US$6 million) in 2007.
According to the Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Thailand's important agricultural exports to Sri Lanka are sugar, seafood, seasoning items, herbs and spices, while imported merchandise from the South Asian country is mostly grain and cereal products, worth around Bt53 million (US$1.6 million).
Mr Theera added that several types of Thai processed items such as processed fruits, canned coconut milk, processed seafood and tapioca flour are in a high demand and have a bright future in the Sri Lankan market.
Also, machinery used in farming and in the agro-industry, which was produced by Thai primary technology, can also penetrate this market, said the minister; for instance, threshers, coir peelers, electric generators, and oxygen generators for shrimp farms.
Sri Lanka has ample marine resources for Thailand to co-invest with the country in coastal fisheries as well as setting up a factory to process and package seafood products, said Mr Theera. (MCOT online news)
