Bangkok: Thailand is hosting the 33rd ASEAN Livestock Conference to promote regional cooperation towards sustainable livestock production. The Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development pointed out that the 36% US tariff will cause difficulties for Thai farmers but is ready to comply with the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Somchuan Rattanamangalanon, Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development, presided over the opening ceremony of the 33rd ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Livestock (ASWGL) and other related meetings, including the 12th ASEAN National Focal Points on Veterinary Products (ANFPVP) and the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Animal Health and Zoonoses (ACCAHZ) Special Meeting.
Dr. Somchuan emphasized the significance of this event as a platform to promote academic cooperation in various facets of livestock, including animal health, husbandry standards, livestock production, and disease control in Thailand. The conference aims to enhance international recognition and confidence in Thailand’s trade and investment, benefiting the economies of ASEAN member countries. The ASWGL meeting is a specialized platform for ASEAN countries to exchange knowledge, develop policies, and set directions for regional livestock cooperation.
The conference, held from July 16-18, 2025, is led by Dr. Somchuan as Chairman of the Meeting’s Executive Committee and includes representatives from 10 ASEAN member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, along with Timor-Leste as observers. It also features attendees from the ASEAN Secretariat, International Partnership for Development, and relevant international organizations. The objectives are to monitor, set directions, and report progress to the Senior Officials Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF), and consider cooperation approaches, such as the management of the ASEAN Animal Health Trust Fund, and policies related to the ASEAN Agriculture Work Plan.
Hosting this conference underscores Thailand’s leadership in regional livestock and is viewed as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, develop potential, and elevate ASEAN livestock standards.
Veterinarian Somchuan addressed the impact of the 36% import tax from the US, acknowledging the additional challenges it poses for Thai farmers. However, he assured that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has a working group on this issue, and the Department of Livestock Development is prepared to comply with the ministry’s policy.