Indonesia and Malaysia are the major trading partners of Thailand in ASEAN region. In 2018, Malaysia is the most important trading partner, followed by Vietnam and Indonesia. Thai-Malaysia trade totaled US$ 24.88 billion, with Thai trade deficit accounting for US$ 1.55 billion whereas Thai-Indonesia trade totaled US$ 18.20 billion, with Thai trade surplus accounting for US$ 2.29 billion (Ministry of Commerce and Custom Department). Thai-Indonesia trade is expected to grow at a high pace, with Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development estimating Indonesian GDP at over 5% in 2019-2020. This would result in higher Indonesian demand of foreign goods, including those from Thailand.

In 1992, Malaysia proposed a development scheme for Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand called Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). A year later, leaders of the 3 countries agreed on the principle and drafted a proposal to establish such cooperation framework which covers adjacent parts of the 3 countries. In 2017, Thai cabinet endorsed a 20-year plan called IMT-GT Vision 2036 and a 5-year plan (2017-2021) which leads to integration, innovation, reduction of inequality and sustainable development by 2036. IMT-GT covers 7 areas of development, divided into 2 major sectors, i.e. priority sectors, including agriculture and agro-industry, Halal products & services; and supporting sectors, including transport, information technology/communication, trade & investment, environment, human resource, education and culture. In particular, agriculture and agro-industry are important sectors which generate income and contribute to the growth of the 3 countries. Among various crops, oil palm and rubber are the major crops of IMT-GT.

IMT-GT convenes a series of meetings. Recently, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) in association with Centre for IMTGT (CIMT) held Workshop on Developing Rubber Cities in the IMT-GT: Sharing The Countries' Experience in Planning and Development of Rubber Cities on 23 May 2019 at the Everly Hotel, Putrajaya, Malaysia. On this occasion, Mr. Supadetch Ongsakul, TRA Deputy Secretary General was invited to give a presentation on IMT-GT Business Collaboration in the Rubber Related Industries and Ms. Piyaporn Saelim to attend the meetings. 

Lately, the 12^th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Summit was held at the Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok and attended by Indonesian President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Thai Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Akom Thermpitttayapaisit, ASEAN Secretary-General, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi  and President of Asian Development Bank, Mr. Takehiko Nakao. The followings are important matters of the summit: 1) assessment of the progress of IMT-GT projects on the basis on inequality reduction; 2) development of infrastructure connectivity to enhance competitive advantage of IMT-GT and to support China’s One Belt One Road; 3) improvement of value chain of important agricultural products, including rubber, oil palm, processed seafood and Halal products through research & development and innovation from upstream to downstream sector and to promote demand, value-added products and jobs; 4) sustainable development of Green Cities with fast pace; 5) enhancement of role of premiers and governors to cherish cooperation with IMT-GT University Network, IMT-GT Business Council and communities to push forward IMT-GT projects. 

From the above data, it could be concluded that IMT-GT plays an important role in enhancing trade & investment and competitive advantage of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The Thai Rubber Association is of the view that IMT-GT will bring about strategic strength to Thailand as a whole.