In conjunction with the Malaysian Rubber Exchange (MRE) Annual Dinner Dinner, which was held on 4th October 2024, the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC) organized the 30th Assembly of ARBC and Information Sharing by ARBC Members on European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Readiness on 5th October 2024. The meeting provided a platform for members to exchange views of common issues concerning rubber trade matters impacting all members. Among the important matters discussed in the meetings were international rubber trade contracts, issues on international rubber trade as well as the administrative matters of the organisation. Both the 30th Assembly and Information Sharing were chaired by ARBC Chairman, Mr. Men Sopheak from Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC).

During the meeting, Lao Rubber Association (LRA) was invited as an observer at the Assembly. LRA delegates were represented by Dr. Bounthong Bouahom, President of Lao Rubber Association. During the meeting, a brief ceremony was also held to mark the handover of Chairmanship of ARBC from ARDC to GAPKINDO for the next term of 2025-2026.

Representatives from association members that attended the meetings were Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS), Thai Rubber Association (TRA), Rubber Trade Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO), Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC) and Federation of Rubber Trade Associations of Malaysia (FRTAM). MRE which is a unit under the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is a permanent secretariat for ARBC.

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In conjunction with the Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS) Lunar New Year Dinner, which was held on 1st March 2024, the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC) organized two hybrid meetings on 2nd March 2024: 30th Meeting of Technical Committee and Contract Matters (TCCM) and 24th Economics Statistics Committee (ESC) Meeting at Orchard Hotel Singapore. The meeting provided a platform for members to exchange views of common issues concerning rubber trade matters impacting all members. Among the important matters discussed in the meetings were international rubber trade contracts, the current market conditions, issues on international rubber trade, natural rubber (NR) statistics, prices, market outlook as well as the administrative matters of the organisation. Both the 30th TCCM and 24th ESC were chaired by Mr. Teo Soon Huat from Federation of the Rubber Trade Associations of Malaysia (FRTAM).

Representatives from association members of ARBC that attended the meetings physically were Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS), Thai Rubber Association (TRA), Rubber Trade Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO), Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC) and FRTAM. Myanmar Rubber Producers & Planters Association (MRPPA) attended the meetings both physically and virtually. Meanwhile, Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) attended the meetings on Zoom platform. MRE which is a unit under the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is a permanent secretariat for ARBC.

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In conjunction with the Malaysian Rubber Exchange Annual Dinner held on 6th October 2023, the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC) had organized two hybrid meetings on 7th October 2023:  29th Assembly of ARBC and Berjaya Times Square Hotel Kuala Lumpur. Virtually, the meetings were held on Zoom. The meeting provided a platform for members to exchange views of common issues concerning rubber trade matters that have impacted all members. Among the important matters discussed in the both meetings were international rubber trade contracts, the current market conditions, issues on international rubber trade as well as the administrative and financial matters of the organisation. The 29th Assembly of ARBC was chaired by the Chairman cum Secretary-General of The Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia, Mr. Men Sopheak while the 29th TCCM Meeting was chaired by Mr Teo Soon Huat from FRTAM. 

 

Representatives from association members of ARBC that attended the meetings physically were Thai Rubber Association (TRA), Rubber Trade Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO), Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC) and Federation of the Rubber Trade Associations of Malaysia (FRTAM). Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS) attended the meetings both physically and virtually. Meanwhile, Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) and Myanmar Rubber Producers & Planters Association (MRPPA) attended the meetings on Zoom platform. MRE which is a unit under the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is a permanent secretariat for ARBC.  

 

The ARBC also received the first visit from the Ivory Coast delegation led by Mr. Djety Allico Thomas D'aquin, Director of Promotion and Competitiveness at the Rubber and Palm Oil Council, Ministry of Agriculture, Côte d'Ivoire and Mr. Meledje Edward Jean Kelvin and Mr. Logouna Mamadou Diomande from Meledje Trading Company. The purpose of the visit is to exchange information on the rubber industry in addition to establishing close relations between the Ivory Coast and the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC). In the meeting, the ARBC has also invited Ivory Coast to become a member of ARBC+ and has invited Ivory Coast to attend as an observer at the next ARBC meeting in Singapore in March 2024.

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In conjunction with the RTAS Lunar New Year Dinner held on 24th February 2023, the ASEAN Rubber Business Council (ARBC) had organized the 28th Meeting of Technical Committee and Contract Matters (TCCM) on 25th February 2023 at Carlton Singapore Hotel. Among the important matters discussed in the meeting were international rubber trade contracts, the current market conditions, issues on international rubber trade as well as the administrative matters of the council. The 28th TCCM was chaired by Mr Teo Soon Huat from FRTAM. A special session on Sharing Information on Sustainability of NR was also held to discuss sustainability matters among ARBC member countries. The session was chaired by Mr. Widyantoko Sumarlin representing the Rubber Trade Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO). The meeting also witnessed the handover of ARBC Chairmanship from Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA) to the Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC) for the term 2023-2024.

Representatives from association members of ARBC that attended the meeting were Rubber Trade Association of Singapore (RTAS), Thai Rubber Association (TRA), Rubber Trade Association of Indonesia (GAPKINDO), Association for Rubber Development of Cambodia (ARDC), Vietnam Rubber Association (VRA), and Malaysian Rubber Exchange/Federation of the Rubber Trade Associations of Malaysia (MRE/FRTAM). Myanmar Rubber Producers & Planters Association (MRPPA) joined the meeting via online. MRE which is a unit under the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is a permanent secretariat for ARBC.

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