Primary Industries Ministry signs MoU with Thailand’s Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperat

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives of Thailand was signed last week at a special ceremony held at the auditorium of the Primary Industries Ministry in the presence of Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage and the Ambassador for Thailand in Sri Lanka Chulamanee Chartsuwan.

While the Secretary to the Primary Industries Ministry Eng. Bandula Wickremaarchchi signed the MoU on behalf of the ministry and Apirom Sukprasert signed on behalf of the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives of Thailand.

In his address at the signing ceremony, Gamage underscored the importance of the signing agreement as it served both countries well for the time to come. 

“I must commend Thailand for adopting the right policies, creating the right institutions and assembling the educated resources to realise the country’s development goals,” he said.

The Minister went on to say that the target of his ministry was to double agriculture-based products and increase the revenue earned by 2020 and keep on doubling exports every five years.

“One may say it is a very difficult and tough task but I am very confident that we can make it. And we are determined to accomplish it,” the Minister emphasised.

Both Thailand and Sri Lanka continue to support each in the international political and trade fields. There has been a very steady increase in bilateral trade and ties between both countries have grown rapidly, said the Minister.

“For Third World countries such as ours, primary industries are of the utmost importance. A country should build her economic backbone by developing its primary industries at scale and as a gradual progression of that development, a secondary sector which produces and manufactures goods, and the tertiary sector which provides services, will be easier to develop. This is the gradual and organic process of leading a Third World country to be a First World country with a strong economic backbone,” said the Minister. “By entering into an MoU we expect to promote exchange of information and experiences in the areas of agriculture, agriculture cooperatives, agriculture processing industries, microfinance and establishing credit lines to support import and export businesses related to primary industries. I strongly believe that this MOU is a venture that will help achieve this target.   “It is my hope and ardent desire that this MoU signed with the best intentions will be a strong extension of the economic and geopolitical partnership between Sri Lanka and Thailand,” observed Minister Gamage.

Also speaking at the occasion Thailand Ambassador in Sri Lanka Chulamanee Chartsuwan recalled the historical relationship both countries enjoyed for centuries, sharing religious and cultural values and said the MoU signed would elevate that relationship to new heights.

“I welcome the signing of the MoU and will look forward to the implementation of the projects mentioned therein for the benefit of both countries,” she added.

The Chairman of the Agriculture and Agriculture Cooperatives of Thailand Apirom Sukprasert, who signed the MoU, said that he was pleased to be present and a part of an event of such historical significance.

«According to our Government policy we promote our local economy worthy of the farmer. We also recognise the excellent relationship between the two countries,” he added.

The ceremony to sign the Memorandum of Understanding was conducted by Udana Fonseka and Hansi Jayasundara.