Thai PM complacent to sell rice stockpile?

[Apollo]

April 29, 2008 Thailand to sell its entire rice stockpile: PM

BANGKOK - THAILAND'S premier said on Tuesday the country would sell all of its 2.1 million tonnes of stockpiled rice at a cut price to relieve shortages and try to curb soaring domestic prices of the staple grain.

 

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said his cabinet on Tuesday approved the plan to gradually sell off the rice stockpile in five-kilogramme bags for 170 baht (S$6.80) each.

 

A bag of Jasmine rice currently costs more than 200 baht.

 

'This is aimed at relieving the current rice situation,' Mr Samak said. 'Money from the sales will be spent on purchasing new rice to replace the stockpiles.'

 

World rice prices have soared this year, a trend blamed on higher energy and fertiliser costs, greater global demand, droughts, the loss of rice farmland to biofuel plantations, and price speculation.

 

Thailand is the world's top exporter of rice, and international demand for its staple grain has soared after other top exporters Vietnam and India imposed limits on shipping rice overseas to ensure domestic supply.

 

The benchmark Thai variety, Pathumthani fragrant rice, was priced last Wednesday at 998 dollars per tonne for export, up from 512 dollars a tonne in January this year, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said in a price survey.

 

Domestic prices have followed a similar trend.

 

Thailand, which shipped an estimated 9.5 million tonnes of rice overseas last year, has been at pains to convince the world that it has no plans to curb supplies. -- AFP

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_232334.html

 

so complacent... neber take opportunity to blame on oil, on gold, on global problem, on every mother son, and just up the price then throw in a few cts discount to the poorest of poor just to pacify their population.

 

haiz.. how can so complacent... when got chance to make more. then can up his pay at same time.

[Snookium]

 

[Scenic98]

maybe Thaksin now calling Samak now ask now to seek advise from our MIW

[Apollo]

u right.. so 1st thing is send gukhas to protect the rice which must b stored in the toylet and packed into rolls under housebrand before can sell.

[Qpik]

u need rice or toylet papers Sir? fresh n direct fm bkk

 

btw, the govt in 1yr they can revised minimum wage level a few times where coy hv to follow. they really protect their workers. this is a boon/bane depending on which side u r on.