Natural rubber is a plant of economic importance of Thailand, which has been its biggest producer and exporter since 1991. For the overview of Thai rubber industry, in 2017 Thailand covered rubber plantation area of 22.95 million rais (3.672 million hectares), out of which 19.22 million rais (3.07 million hectares) are mature for tapping. Of 4.51 million tons of rubber output, 620,000 tons were domestically consumed, while the majority (3.19 million tons) was exported in the form of ribbed smoked sheets, concentrated latex, technically specified rubber and other (Office of Agricultural Economics). It is the south of Thailand where major plantation area and rubber-processing factories are situated. Songkhla is the country’s second biggest rubber-planting province and where companies and factories are prevalent.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives initiated Songkhla Office of Cooperatives in association with Rubber Authority of Thailand (Songkhla Chapter), Songkhla Chamber of Commerce, Prince of Songkla University and related government agencies and organizations to organize ‘Thailand Rubber Innovation Expo 2018: Rubber is Life’ during 14-16 September 2018 at Hatyai International Convention Center, Songkhla. Among many activities of the exhibition are presentation of excellent rubber innovation, rubber innovation contest, business idea, business matching, display and distribution of rubber innovative products and rubber innovation conference.

Thailand Rubber Innovation Expo 2018 is indeed an important event that strengthens Songkhla rubber industry, promoting value added in consistence with the government’s Thailand 4.0 policy, reducing the effect of falling rubber price and increasing income of rubber farmers.