The current executive committee of the Thai Rubber Association has been in the operation since March 2016. The operation of the executive committee is based upon the following principles: 1. to operate on the principle of transparency and good governance 2. to corporate with government agencies and private sector both at local and international level 3. to cherish close relationship with other rubber producing countries, particularly in Asia. 4. to act as a central body between rubber producers and users and solve problems arising in rubber business for mutual benefit of both 5. to build corporation and relationship among association members for sustainable development of the rubber industry 6. to ensure that the members are promptly informed of all the news and information 7. to build a good image for the association to be locally and internationally recognized as well as to promote a good image of Thai natural rubber as a whole in the world market.

The executive committee is pleased and highly honoured that all members trust our team in leading such an internationally important private rubber organization. We have continuously improved the operation and developed human resources to serve as representatives of the association and to give good services to the members in an efficient and prompt manner for highest satisfaction of every member. The executive committee is highly dedicated to the operation of the association, with the support from all the members, giving success to all activities of the association.

Throughout the one year time of the operation, the executive committee and staffs represented the association in several meetings, seminars and conferences to voice opinions, solutions and measures to the government agencies and private sector. Some of the major conferences were those organized by Committee on Natural Rubber Policy, Sub-Committee on Rubber Strategizing, Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries, and Thai National Shipper’s Council. In terms of product standard, TRA acts as a member of Committee on Consideration of Agricultural Product Standard for Natural Rubber and Rubber Products under National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Committee on Natural Rubber and Rubber products under Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI). On research front, we also serve as a member of Committee on Southern Region Research Network under National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Expert Group of National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Research Fund and related educational institutions.

Another activity is to participate in seminars as a speaker under the main topic of Thailand rubber industry in local and international stages to make suggestions and policies, and report up-to-date rubber news and information to the members. In this regard, Executive Committee members of the Thai Rubber Association were nominated executive committee members of the International Rubber Consortium Limited (IRCo), the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC), Panel of Arbitration (PoA) and Committee for Dispute Resolution (CDR) in Regional Rubber Market. Additionally, we are a member of ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC). TRA was selected by Management Committee of International Rubber Association (IRA) to assume the posts of Chairman and Executive Secretary for the term 2017 - 2018. In this regard, TRA is highly honoured to have Mr. Paul Sumade Lee, Chairman of Sri Trang International Pte LTD. chair the IRA and Mr. Supadetch Ongsakul, TRA Deputy Secretary General serve as the Executive Secretary of IRA.

The above said activities are the important part of the country’s natural rubber development on the right path. On behalf of the executive committee of the Thai Rubber Association, I wish to thank all members and sectors concerned for the support and cooperation in the development of the association to achieve continued success.