Collective efforts needed to earn good prices for rubber in global market

The relevant departments are supposed to cooperate under laws, rules and regulations and procedures for the emergence of factories that can manufacture rubber meeting international standards while earning good prices in the global market, SAC Member Mahn Nyein Maung told a coordination meeting for the development of the rubber sector at the Ministry of Industry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
The SAC member also called for advice of rubber farmers, rubber associations and experts for the country’s effort to have global market share for rubber produced in Myanmar as the country is struggling to boost exports while encouraging MSMEs and import-substitution measures. He also pointed out the need for raw rubber produced in the country to adhere to international standards and reliable international markets to fetch global prices avoiding being underpriced.
In the meeting, the Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation stated that his ministry is concentrating on rubber plantation work in its effort to develop the rubber sector and pledged that his ministry will fully cooperate in the effort under the law.
The MoALI Union minister also called for suggestions on the availability of arable land, quality rubber seeds and water for the plantation that the ministry can fulfil. The Union Minister for Industry stressed the need to make collective efforts to be able to avoid being underpriced and scarcity of overseas markets.
The chief ministers from Mon and Kayin States and Taninthayi Region, who are also the patrons of MSME Development Agencies in the respective states and region, also explained the arrangements already made for the development of the rubber sector.
In the meeting, the measures to set a standard for rubber produced in Myanmar, market situations, yield of rubber plantations, the possibility of bringing about a rubber wholesales market in the country, the opportunities to collaborate between the private sector and the government were also discussed before the SAC member made his concluding remarks. — MNA/TH