On 5 August 2026, Her Excellency Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited as the Guest of Honour of the “Thailand – Malaysia Rice Networking”, organised by the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, at the Malai Thai Cuisine Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, and was warmly welcomed by Mrs. Chanintorn Rimcharone, Deputy Director-General of the DFT, who delivered the Event’s objective remarks. The Event was also attended by Mrs. Emiliza Hashim, Head of Supply and Logistics Management of Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS), the agency responsible for regulating rice imports into Malaysia; Mr. Chookiat Ophaswongse, Honorary President and Board Member of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA); as well as more than 50 representatives from Thai rice exporting companies and Malaysian wholesalers of Thai rice.

The Ambassador met and exchanged views with representatives of the DFT, BERNAS and private-sector stakeholders on the current landscape of Malaysia's rice import market, reaffirming Thailand's position as one of the world's leading exporters of premium-quality rice. The Ambassador also underscored the importance of cooperation to further expand exports of Thai white rice to Malaysia, while promoting greater awareness of “Thailand's Specialty Rice”, renowned for its distinctive taste, unique identity and exceptional quality, with a view to increasing its popularity among Malaysian consumers. Such efforts are expected to enhance income opportunities for Thai farmers engaged in premium rice production while contributing to Thailand's value-based economic development.

On this occasion, the Ambassador also led representatives of BERNAS and participating businesses on a tour of an exhibition showcasing a selection of “Thailand's Specialty Rice” such as Hom Mali Brown Rice, Sang Yod Rice, Riceberry and Glutinous Rice, together with a variety of value-added rice products. The programme concluded with a luncheon featuring an assortment of Thai rice varieties paired with authentic Thai cuisine in a constructive atmosphere, further enhancing the status of Thai rice and reinforcing the close cooperation between the Thai and Malaysian public and private sectors.