In a significant stride towards fostering international cooperation, Mr. Panthawit Mungsamaksrikul, Director of the Cooperative League of Thailand (SSO), along with Mr. Wichit Charojorn, Deputy Director of the Business Development Division, and Mr. Panuwat Waenrawe, Head of International Affairs and Business Promotion, welcomed Mr. Sarath Weerasiri, Chairman of the National Cooperative Council Sri Lanka, and key executives from the Rural Cooperative Bank Association Sri Lanka. Also present at the meeting was Mr. Phattharakrit Suan-ngam, Manager of the Samchaprasat Agricultural Cooperative Limited in Surin Province. The primary agenda of this meeting was to strategize the organization of a training program for Sri Lankan cooperative leaders and explore the potential of procuring cooperative rice.
Collaborative Agreements Pave the Way
On June 19, 2023, a momentous event took place as the
Cooperative League inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National
Cooperative Council Sri Lanka (NCCSL). Under this agreement, the NCCSL
entrusted Agricultural Cooperative Wan Wan Wan Co., Ltd., the Assembly Prasat
Agricultural Cooperative Ltd., and the Buriram Provincial Agricultural
Cooperative Cooperative Ltd. with the responsibility of presenting a detailed
list of rice varieties, complete with pricing details, to the Cooperative Council
Executive Committee for evaluation.
Empowering Cooperative Communities
The National Cooperative Council Sri Lanka, recognizing the potential of cooperation between nations, initiated discussions on organizing a comprehensive training project for Sri Lankan cooperative leaders. Simultaneously, the dialogue encompassed the prospect of procuring cooperative rice from Thailand and tea from Sri Lanka. This visionary approach aims to revolutionize the trade system, promoting fair practices and enhancing sales channels for cooperative products. The fundamental objective is to make high-quality products readily accessible to consumers at equitable prices, aligning seamlessly with the cooperative principles of fairness and collaboration.
A Promising Future
This collaboration between the Cooperative League of Thailand
and the National Cooperative Council Sri Lanka signifies a remarkable step
towards sustainable economic growth, global cooperation, and community
development. By combining forces and resources, these cooperative entities are
not merely engaging in trade; they are fostering understanding, goodwill, and
mutual prosperity between nations. As the initiatives unfold, the Thai-Sri
Lankan cooperative partnership is poised to set new benchmarks in international
collaboration, benefitting communities and consumers alike.