BANGKOK, Thailand – A historic Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on rice trade has been signed between the Governments of Thailand and Singapore. The signing was held on November 7 during the official visit of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to Singapore, where he and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong witnessed the ceremony. The MOC was signed by Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun on behalf of Thailand and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on behalf of Singapore.
The cooperation aims to strengthen food security and expand bilateral agricultural trade. Under the agreement, Thailand will supply Singapore with up to 100,000 tons of rice over five years. Transactions will be carried out in accordance with international commercial standards and at prevailing global market prices. Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade will serve as the lead implementing agency, while Singapore has designated the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) as its counterpart.
Minister Suphajee emphasized that although the volume may be modest compared to Thailand’s total rice exports, the agreement holds strategic importance as it establishes a government-to-government cooperation framework that reinforces confidence in the quality, reliability, and safety of Thai rice. She noted that the partnership reflects the strength of Thailand’s agricultural supply chain and aligns with Singapore’s stringent food management and quality standards.
The Minister also highlighted the broader importance of the agreement in the global context. As food security becomes an increasingly urgent international concern, the partnership reflects Thailand’s readiness to serve as a reliable supplier of high-quality rice and to support stability in the regional food system. This cooperation, as the first of its kind, marks an important step in advancing agricultural collaboration and enhancing ASEAN’s food security network.
The Minister added that this cooperation model will not be limited to rice. Thailand plans to extend similar frameworks to other agricultural products to create added value and expand new trade opportunities. The government also intends to pursue comparable agreements with additional regional and global partners, with the aim of positioning Thailand as a Food Security Hub for the region and delivering long-term benefits to Thai farmers and the private sector. (NNT)
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