One of the important roles of the Thai Rubber Association (TRA) is to participate in academic conferences in Thailand and other countries. This is to bring technical knowledge, updated information, and rubber news to the Thai Rubber Association members. In 2023, Ms. Piyaporn Saelim, TRA Manager, was assigned by the TRA committee to attend the "Symposium on Manufacturing of Rubber Products: Opportunities and Challenges for NR" held by the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) on August 22–23, 2023, at Rama Gardens Hotel, Bangkok.

The symposium was honored by Mr. Nakorn Tangavirapat, Governor of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT), to give the opening speech and Mr. N’Diaye Oumar, IRRDB Chairman, to give the welcoming speech for at least 50 participants. The International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) is an international organization. It consists of research institutes from 19 countries, which are Cambodia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cote d'Ivoire, France, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Liberia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand. The IRRDB secretariat is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its main objective is to support cooperation between members in the research and development of natural rubber and to coordinate between members. In addition, it aims to organize meeting activities to create the opportunity for learning, exchanging knowledge, and sharing experiences among member countries. Therefore, the IRRDB is a platform to build networking among researchers and international rubber experts to develop research and transfer processing technology in each member country, which will be beneficial to the development of production potential, the processing of rubber farmers, and the rubber industry of each country in the future.

This seminar gave importance to developing a sustainable supply chain, adding value to new rubber-based products, and exchanging knowledge and information on the research of various types of downstream rubber products. Furthermore, the seminar also gave importance to accelerating and strengthening research and development, innovation, and investment in downstream rubber products. Moreover, it encouraged start-up businesses. The participants visited and listened to a lecture at TT SAHA INTER Company Limited, which is a manufacturer of rubber pillows, seat rubber, and medical rubber products. Moreover, the participants visited and listened to a lecture from the rubber industry department of the Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT).

It can be inferred that this activity is one of the factors that helps us learn and update knowledge about international rubber research and development. More importantly, it is beneficial to develop the world’s sustainable natural rubber industry.

Mr. Chaiyos Sincharoenkul

President

The Thai Rubber Association