Headed by Prof. Liu Guodao, vice president of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences the CATAS delegation attended the IRRDB International Rubber Conference (IRC) at Empress Angkor Resort and Spa, Siem Reap between 21-22 November 2016. The CATAS delegation, consisted of 10 member, and 7 of them from CATAS Rubber Research Institute (CATAS-RRI) attended the events. The theme of the IRC 2016 was Sustainability of the NR Industry: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. The IRC 2016 was hosted by Cambodian Rubber Research Institute. The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) H.E. Veng Sakhon announced opening of the conference, and the Governor of Siem Reap Province H.E Khim Bun Song made a welcome address at the opening ceremony, while the IRRDB Secretary General Datuk Dr. Abdul Aziz S. A Kadir made an introductory remarks, and the Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Cambodia made a welcome address. The IRRDB Chairman Dr. James Jacob concluded the conference. Local media prepared special programme for this event. About 320 participants from 20 countries attended the conference.
A field visit to an Economic Concession Land with a rubber plantation of 7422 ha and a pepper garden of 52 ha owned by the Try Pheap Group in Preah Vihear Province was well arranged on 22 November. The conference turned out to be a great success.
The Meeting of the Directors and CEOs and the Meeting of the Board were held on 24 - 25 November, and chaired by the IRRDB Chairman Dr. James Jacob, Director of Rubber Research Institute of India, who terminated his term after the Board Meeting. Mr. Picheat Prommoon, Director, Rubber Research Institute of Thailand, was newly elected as Chairman of IRRDB, and Dr. Karyudi, Director, Rubber Research Institute of Indonesia, and Prof. Zhou Jiannan were elected as vice chairmen of IRRDB.
