On 25 Jan. ’23 Ms.Mananya Thaiset Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives revealed that the visit to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) during January 25-28, 2023, along with Mr. Rapeephat Chantarasriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, Ms. Anjeem Thirasut Deputy Director General of Cooperative Auditing Department and Mr. Nirun Moonthida, Deputy Director General of Cooperative Promotion Department and the private sector exports agricultural products met with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR to discuss cooperation on agriculture under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Lao PDR as strategic partners for sustainable growth and development
Both sides will discuss to resolve problems and reduce obstacles between them in facilitating trade in agricultural products by land and air, and developing Thai-Lao phytosanitary cooperation. to prevent diseases and pests in agricultural products jointly establishing a Thai-Lao Working Group (Working Group) on agriculture and plant quarantine subjects to be completed within 3 months and identifying key issues for coordinating work Including discussing the use of technology from the Department of Agriculture to expand the results in the area Royal initiative projects Huai Son-Huay Sua Agricultural Development and Service Center Project in Lao PDR, as well as the report on the achievements of cooperative cooperation between the two countries, which has a project to strengthen farmers and agricultural cooperatives. An exchange of knowledge on the cooperative accounting system by the Cooperative Auditing Department and the Central Auditing Department of Lao PDR and a study visit between them.
“Laos and Thailand are regarded as business partners that jointly trade and expand to trade with China. Currently, the value of border trade between Thailand and Laos Total products of all types in 2022 (Jan.-Nov.) are at 548 billion baht. In 2023, it is expected to increase to 600 billion baht, with the total exports of agricultural products expected to expand to 5- 60 billion baht, of which in 2022 there were 806 hundred thousand tons of agricultural products with phytosanitary certificates from Thailand through Laos to China, worth 56.6 billion baht. jointly developing and upgrading phytosanitary measures at border checkpoints Meeting of plant quarantine officials The exchange of information on export-import control regulations between the two countries is therefore important. Including discussions to facilitate the transportation of goods through Lao PDR to China by train and truck routes. because Thai-Chinese There is an agreement to export fruit through a third country that must seal the cabinet. To prevent contamination and adulteration of goods during transportation all the way to China. In this case, we will ask for cooperation with the Lao PDR that during transit through Lao PDR is not allowed to open the container or break seal the container Unless there is information that illegal things are hidden. Which the Thai side will bring samples of seals and samples of Thai phytosanitary certificates that have been modified to support the use of e-Phyto to show to the Lao PDR authorities as well In addition, the private sector will be informed of the problems at the Lao border checkpoint. To be used to manage the delivery of agricultural products to reduce the problem concentrated at the Thai-Laos-China checkpoint, “said the Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
Mr. Rapiphat Chanthasriwong, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, said that the issue of phytosanitary cooperation between Thailand and Laos A detailed regulated article will be prepared to comply with the regulations of both countries and facilitate trade. and the cooperation of plant quarantine officials on both sides in strict inspection of exported and imported cassava to prevent the importation of susceptible varieties that are not resistant to disease Cassava is an important export crop of Laos. And Thailand imports more than 7.8 billion baht a year from agricultural products imported 12 billion baht a year.
