The Thai Rubber Association organized the Annual Dinner 2019 on Friday, 3 May 2019 at Centara Grand Hotel, CentralWorld, Bangkok and hosted the 25^th Technical Committee on Contract Matter Meeting and the 24^th Assembly of the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC) on 4 May 2019. The annual dinner was numerously attended by over 800 guests, including delegates from various government agencies, private organizations, dignitaries and industry players in the country and from abroad, namely Bank of Thailand, Rubber Authority of Thailand, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai Latex Association, Thai Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association, Thailand Futures Exchange Pcl, Tokyo Commodity Exchange, Singapore Exchange Limited, rubber association members of ASEAN Rubber Business Council, etc. It was my great honour to give a welcoming and opening speech, to the distinguished guests, in which rubber scenario was highlighted. The year 2018 is another year of big challenge for all stakeholders in rubber industry. The drop and volatility in rubber price had an impact on smallholders across the world and even end users who didn't enjoy long-term benefits. Therefore, all of us namely smallholders, processors, traders and consumers must join hands and hearts together to bring about the balance of production and consumption. This will help generate remunerative price. The Association advocates domestic consumption of rubber in the form of finished products and rubber plantation control which is a significant policy of the government in its sustainable rubber development plan.

As for the 25^th Technical Committee on Contract Matter Meeting and the 25^th Assembly of the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC) held on 4 May 2019, I deputized Mr. Bundit Kerdvongbundit, TRA Secretary General to give an opening speech at the Assembly attended by Mr. Supadetch Ongsakul, TRA Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Decha Meesuan, Vice-President of Thai Latex Association, Ms. Piyaporn Saelim, TRA Manager and TRA staff. TRA is very honoured to continue assuming the post of ARBC Chairman for the term 2019-2020. TRA is indeed overwhelmed by the trust of the association members in leading such an influential rubber trade council. Since the years 2005 until today, the ARBC has been very effective in protecting the interest of the rubber trade sector in its respective member countries. It is very active in developing and updating international rubber contracts and rubber statistics, especially Daily NR Prices of ARBC Members. In this era, it is also aware of sustainability issues.

TRA Annual Dinner 2019 received a huge success contributed by cooperation from government sector and both domestic and foreign private sectors, especially cooperation and spirit of TRA Management Committee members and TRA staff. On behalf of the Thai Rubber Association, I wish to thank everybody concerned. I consider this special occasion a big step towards closer relation in the rubber industry among the producing and the consuming countries.