The ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC), formerly known as the ASEAN Rubber Business Club was founded on 23 October 1992 in Jakarta, Indonesia under the sponsorship of four natural rubber producing and trading nations in the ASEAN region, namely Rubber Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO); the Malaysian Rubber Exchange (MRE); the Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS); and the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) in order to exchange market information, to consult and discuss common trade practices. Headquartered in Malaysia, ARBC currently comprises of 6 member countries, viz. Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam - the Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) and Cambodia - the Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC). The objectives of ARBC are as follows: to establish a forum for members to freely and frankly exchange views on matters of mutual interest; to establish closer rapport through exchanges of market information, trade visits, organizing of seminars and marketing forum to broaden the outlook and enhance the professionalism of members; to consult and discuss common trade practices and problems with a view to reach consensus and eventually influence the respective governments to make the necessary policy and strategy adjustments for the common good of the members; to monitor the progress and development of the natural rubber industry in member countries, to foster closer co-ordination, co-operation and goodwill amongst member organizations; to maintain an Executive Committee within the Council to decide on administrative and financial matters; to maintain an Economics and Statistics Committee to be responsible for trade matters and the collection, analysis and dissemination of market information and statistics.
The main activity of the ASEAN Rubber Business Council is to biannually hold assembly meeting and meeting of Technical Committee on Contract Matter (TCCM), meeting of Economics and Statistics Committee (ESC) and Industry Discipline Committee (IDC) on necessary basis, rotated by each member country in conjunction with respective member association’s
annual dinner, viz. Singapore Rubber Trade Association’s Annual Dinner in February, Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia ‘s Annual Dinner in March, the Thai Rubber Association’s Annual Dinner in May, GAPKINDO’s Annual Dinner in August, Malaysian Rubber Board’s Annual Diner in October and Vietnam Rubber Association’s Annual Dinner in December. The meeting emphasizes on exchange of information about global rubber situations, problems and obstacles occurring, member cooperation in solving the problems and negotiation with global rubber consumers through global rubber organization such as International Rubber Association (IRA). This year, the 21st Assembly of ASEAN Rubber Business Council and the 14th meeting of Technical Committee on Contract Matter (TCCM) will be held on 29 August 2015 at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel, Bali, Indonesia in conjunction with GAPKINDO’s Annual Dinner on the preceded night of 28 August 2015.
From the above data, ASEAN Rubber Business Council is considered an important international rubber organization of private sector which plays a significant role in promoting and cooperating closely among rubber producers in ASEAN Region. On this occasion, the Thai Rubber Association would like to cordially invite all members to attend the said meeting in conjunction with GAPKINDO’s Annual Dinner 2015. I hope that you will obtain massive business information and will be fostering relationship with other ARBC members, which would bring about development of Thai rubber business in the long run.
ASEAN Rubber Business Council and Thai rubber business development