Thai Union and Private Sector Work Together to Support the Mobilization of the Public-Private Collaboration Policy and Sign Mou with Government & Cooperatives to Build Capacity for Aquaculture Farmers Nationwide

(Caption) Government agencies, private companies and aquaculture cooperatives at the signing of the MoU in support of the mobilization of Public-Private Collaboration Policy

(seated, from right to left) – Representatives of the participating cooperatives; Assoc. Prof. Manop Kanchanaburangura, Director of Fish Marketing Organization; Mr. Thiraphong Chansiri, President & CEO Thai Union Group PCL & Chairman of the Aquatic Animal Group, Modern Agricultural Development Working Group; Dr. Vinaroj Supsongsuk, Director - General of the Cooperative Promotion Department; Mr. Poj Aramwattananont, Ph.D., President of Thai Frozen Foods Association and Mr. Adis Krissanawong, Deputy Senior MD, CPF PCL.

(Standing) - (4th from Left) Dr. Panisuan Jamnarnwej, Honorary Advisor to the Thai Frozen Foods Association;

(5th from Left) Mr. Sitthichai Ritthitham, Director of the Samut Sakhon Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center and representatives of the participating cooperatives.

29th April 2016, Bangkok – The private sector and government agencies recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in support of the Government’s public-private collaboration policy (previously referred to as the civil state policy) on the initiative to mobilize modern agricultural development in the aquatic animal group. Through this initiative, the private sector will provide knowledge on cultivation, marketing and distribution to support the aquaculture farmers in their shrimp and fish production.

Mr. Thiraphong Chansiri, President & CEO of Thai Union Group PCL and Chairman of the Aquatic Animal Group, Modern Agricultural Development Working Group commented on the policy and stated: “This public-private policy is one where the farmers are genuine benefactors. Meanwhile, the business sector is the mechanism which will connect the government and people. In this way, the private sector is contributing to the development of the aquatic animal group and hopes to see an efficient and effective effort made by all concerned parties to help fish and shrimp farmers boost their production and profit.”

The project will be implemented into two phases. First, the technology transfer on hatchery and marketing promotion, which will last until the end of this year. Then, the second phase will establish a breeding development center which will become the aquaculture development hub. This will also aim to increase the value and competitiveness of Thai aquatic animals and will involve further collaboration with Department of Fisheries with regards to location and budgeting.

The private sector in this working group is comprised of aquatic animal processing companies who will provide participating aquaculture farmers with technology transfer, knowledge, marketing insight, as well as distribution channel support. Meanwhile, the public sector will be responsible for promoting the formation of cooperatives to improve hatchery and production efficiency and for arranging business matching between cooperatives and aquatic animal companies. The collaboration is focused on increasing income and improving farmers’ quality of life, while also working to boost aquaculture capacity and quality, which would positively impact farmers nationwide.

The Aquatic Animal Working Group comprises of the government sector; Cooperative Promotion Department, Department of Fisheries, Fish Marketing Organization and the Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives of Thailand. It also comprises the private sector; Thai Union Group PCL, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai Frozen Foods Association, Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL and Wales& Co. Universe Limited.

A total of 12 cooperatives signed the MoU consists of:-

• Chantha Buri Shrimp Farmers Cooperative
• Shrimp Cooperative of Trat Limited
• Sustainable Shrimp Cooperative of Trat
• Pak Panang River Basin Shrimp Farmers Cooperative Limited, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
• Nakhon Pathom Shrimp Farmers Cooperative Limited
• Ban Sang Agriculture Cooperative Limited, Prachin Buri Province
• Nikom Ban Sang Pattana Cooperative Limited, Prachin Buri Province
• Paedriew Agriculture Cooperative, Chachoengsao Province
• Trang Aquaculture Cooperative
• Kung Kraben Fisheries Cooperative, Chantha Buri province
• Chon Buri Aqualculture Cooperative
• Phan Fisheries Cooperative, Chiang Rai province.

This collaboration is a good starting point to support the Thai government in their goal of driving grassroots economic development in Thailand.