Rubber business and industry involves participants in multiple sectors, namely smallholders, government, private sector which includes producers, exporters and consumers, as well as international organizations. Among important international organizations is International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC), which comprises governmental members in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia with International Rubber Consortium Limited (IRCo) serving as the secretariat located in Rubber Research Institute of Thailand under Rubber Authority of Thailand, Bangkok. It is in charge of establishing stable and fair price for smallholders and exporters and maintaining demand-supply balance to meet market requirements. ITRC operates its functions through three important schemes, namely Supply Management Scheme (SMS), Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme (AETS) and Demand Promotion Scheme (DPSC). I, as the President of the Thai Rubber Association am highly honoured to be a committee member of International Tripartite Rubber Council and International Rubber Consortium Limited.

ITRC convenes official meetings biannually. The most recent meeting, namely the 28^th Meeting of ITRC was hosted by Malaysian Government on 6-7 July 2017 at Impiana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with Puan Zurinah Pawanteh, Head of Malaysian delegates being the Chairperson. On behalf of the Thai Rubber Association, Mr. Supadetch Ongsakul, TRA Deputy Secretary General and Ms. Piyaporn Saelim, TRA Manager attended the meeting which had the following matters: 1) rubber situation and short-term measures to solve falling rubber price; 2) inviting Vietnam to join ITRC; 3) global rubber demand forecasting model; 4) rubber funds for price stabilisation program; 5) progress of Demand Promotion Scheme Committee (DPSC); 6) progress of implementing Supply Management Scheme; 7) progress of the establishment of Regional Rubber Market; and 8) date and venue of the 29^th Meeting of ITRC i.e. 15 September 2017 in Bangkok hosted by Thai Government.

From the above data, it can be recapitulated that ITRC plays a significant role in liaising strong cooperation among rubber producing countries to stabilise rubber prices and is a mechanism that contributes to further development of global rubber industry.