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COMMODITIES
VICHAYA PITSUWAN
Industry Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan has proposed using commercial counsellors in Thai embassies to expand sugar exports by helping producers penetrate new markets.
Mr Mingkwan's idea came from his experience as commerce minister and the use of this strategy to improve longan sales, resulting in the doubling of prices for the fruit.
The approach was outlined in his first official meeting with sugar cane associations, scheduled to meet next month.
''Taking the exact model means commercial counsellors stationed in over 60 countries finding companies interested in buying sugar from Thailand,'' he said. ''These potential buyers will get to meet and negotiate business with sugar manufacturers, who will be nominated by their provincial member of parliament.''
Mr Mingkwan argued that this strategy could promote sugar exports and raise prices for sugar and sugarcane, providing cane farmers with better incomes. He added that futures trading in the world market would be another channel.
Early estimates for the next crop by Kamthorn Kittichotsap, a planters' representative, suggest sugarcane prices in the 2008-09 harvesting season will be 900 to 1,000 baht per tonne. But the cane price will be finalised in October by the Cane and Sugar Board.
Last season, cane farmers received 807 baht per tonne of cane. Initially, they were to receive only 600 baht, but after complaints that this did not cover production costs, former minister Suwit Khunkitti approved an additional 207 baht from sugar millers and from the Cane and Sugar Fund, raising its deficit to over 24 billion baht.
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