Thailand is poised to establish joint ventures with Gulf states to secure rice, processed agricultural products and food supplies for the oil-rich countries. But the government has reiterated that foreigners will not be allowed to invest in farming and livestock businesses in Thailand.

"We are ready to form joint ventures with countries from the Middle East - be it on the government-to-government basis or business-to-business - in agricultural product processing and the food business," said Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

"The Middle East is, in fact, Thailand's major rice client and we are all prepared to co-invest in setting up a rice-stocking centre somewhere in the Middle East to distribute the grain to that region."

continued http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/econom...s-with-the-gulf

-- Bangkok Post 18/08/09

I never realized how important rice was in the Middle East until Anthony Bourdain on the travel channel in the US did a show in Saudi Arabia. Many of the meat dishes were served on a huge bed of rice.

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by Carmine6