BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 25 May 2026 - Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chulalongkorn University to advance a strategic collaboration on knowledge, and technology, with support from international partners. The partnership aims to develop and pilot carbon capture technologies in SARABURI SANDBOX, paving the way for industrial-scale deployment and future policy development. This marks a significant step in laying the foundation for Thailand's low-carbon industrial ecosystem and supporting the country's Net Zero 2050 target.
Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of TCMA, stated that the collaboration reflects the proactive role of the industrial sector in advancing the country's climate commitments through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. The initiative brings together industry, academia, government, and international partners, including Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), to accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon cement industry in line with the Thailand 2050 Net Zero Cement and Concrete Roadmap.
"This collaboration with Chulalongkorn University elevates our efforts into a long-term platform, from knowledge development and workforce readiness to pilot-scale technology deployment. It will be strengthened by Canadian expertise and real-world testing in the SARABURI SANDBOX, which will serve as a learning platform to develop scalable solutions for industrial application" Mr. Surachai said.
Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of Chulalongkorn University, emphasized the university's role as a Strategic Knowledge Partner in bridging research and real-world implementation, while fostering "Green Talent" to support industrial transformation.
"Chulalongkorn University sees this collaboration as a strategic mechanism to strengthen the knowledge base in low-carbon technologies alongside human capital development. This will enhance workforce capabilities in line with the transition and support Thailand's long-term green economy" Professor Dr. Wilert said.
H.E. Ping Kitnikone, Ambassador of Canada to Thailand, expressed Canada's strong support for the initiative, highlighting over 65 years of bilateral relations and shared commitment to climate action.
"This collaboration encompasses knowledge transfer, technology, and expertise in greenhouse gas mitigation, particularly through technical experts and capacity building. Carbon capture technology will serve as a bridge between innovation and industrial application, helping drive the transition toward a low-carbon economy," the ambassador noted.
From the government side, Dr. Pirun Saiyasitpanich, Director General of Department of Climate Change and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment stated that the cement industry is a strategic sector in reducing national greenhouse gas emissions toward Net Zero 2050, while strengthening climate resilience.
"This collaboration serves as a key policy mechanism linking project-level implementation to national-level action, with SARABURI SANDBOX acting as a testbed for learning and development. The outcomes will inform policy design and enable effective scaling at the national level" Dr. Pirun said.
Mr. Teeratas Isarangkul Na Ayudhaya, Deputy Director General of the Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry added that the initiative aligns with the "One MIND" policy, which integrates regulation with the promotion of green industry.
"The Department stands ready to support this collaboration in developing a scalable industrial model that enhances Thailand's competitiveness in a sustainability-driven global economy" Mr. Teeratas said.
Dr. Chana Poomee, Honorary Chairman of TCMA and President of ASEAN Federation of Cement Manufacturers (AFCM), highlighted the initiative as a key step in positioning Thailand as a "regional model" for industrial decarbonization.
"By integrating cross-sector collaboration through PPP, linking policy, technology, knowledge, and workforce development to real-world implementation, this initiative will establish the foundation of a Low-Carbon Industrial Ecosystem and evolve into a system-level model that can be scaled across the region," he said.
This collaboration marks the starting point of Thailand's low-carbon industrial ecosystem, connecting knowledge, technology, innovation, human capital, and policy into real-world applications and commercial pathways. It is expected to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance the country's competitiveness in an increasingly sustainability-driven global landscape.
Hashtag: #TCMA #CementActionToNetZero #Decarbonization #NetZero2050 #CarbonCapture #CCU #Technology #Innovation #CU #DCCE #DIW #AFCM
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TCMA x Chulalongkorn University Join Forces with Canadian Partners to Advance Strategic Collaboration for a Low-Carbon Industry toward Net Zero 2050
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 17 July 2026 - Competition authorities from BRICS countries have established a task force to conduct a joint sector inquiry into the global grain trade, marking a new step in cooperation on competition policy across international agricultural markets.
BRICS Competition Authorities Establish Task Force to Study Global Grain Trade
The decision was announced during the discussion "Competition Development in Global Grain Trade: Joint Efforts of BRICS Countries", organized by the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre on the sidelines of the 23rd Session of the UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Competition Law and Policy in Geneva.
The event included a closed meeting of BRICS competition authorities and a public panel featuring researchers, academics and representatives of international organizations.
Discussions focused on competition in global grain markets, the growing influence of financialization and digitalization across agricultural value chains, and policy tools to improve market transparency. Participants also reviewed the findings of a joint report prepared by the BRICS Competition Centre and UNCTAD (link: https://www.bricscompetition.org/ru/grainreport) , first presented at the 9th BRICS International Competition Conference in Cape Town in 2025.
A coordinated market study
The central outcome of the meeting was the establishment of a BRICS task force that will coordinate a joint sector inquiry into global grain trade within the framework of the BRICS Working Group on Food Markets.
The task force will be co-chaired by Diogo Thomson, President of Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), and Mahmoud Momtaz, Chairperson of the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA).
Thomson welcomed the initiative and proposed making competition in global grain trade a key topic at the next BRICS International Competition Conference, scheduled to take place in Brazil in 2027.
"Brazil is the only jurisdiction that has launched an investigation into digital grain trading platforms such as Covantis. I therefore strongly welcome this sector inquiry, which will help us better understand the impact of digitalization across grain supply chains and the risks it may create for competition. I also support using the BRICS Competition Centre as the coordination platform for this work," he said.
Momtaz said one of the main conclusions of the BRICS-UNCTAD report was the significant role speculative activity plays in global grain markets.
"One of the key findings of the report presented by the BRICS Competition Centre is the extent to which speculative factors influence global grain trade. The most effective response is greater market transparency. We should not accept a situation where farmers receive only a small share of the value they create while consumers in Egypt pay excessively high prices for bread. Where does this margin accumulate, and who ultimately benefits from it? These are the questions our sector inquiry should answer," he said.
He also proposed that the task force develop a common AI-powered price monitoring tool covering BRICS grain markets.
"Such a tool would provide the information needed for market analysis and become an important complement to the joint sector inquiry," Momtaz added.
From analysis to policy recommendations
Hardin Ratshisusu, Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Commission of South Africa, said the study should contribute to the implementation of the BRICS Grain Exchange initiative endorsed by BRICS leaders in the Kazan Declaration (2024) and the Rio de Janeiro Declaration (2025).
"The proposal to establish a BRICS Grain Exchange should become one of the key recommendations of the sector inquiry as an innovative mechanism for restoring competition in global grain trade. Our objective is not merely to identify market problems but to develop practical recommendations that can ultimately be submitted to the leaders of our countries," he said.
Alexey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, said competition authorities should play a central role in designing the institutional framework of the future exchange.
"The BRICS Grain Exchange should not become another formal institution. It must serve as a practical mechanism for improving competition and market transparency. Competition authorities are uniquely positioned to identify the institutional features that will allow the exchange to achieve these objectives," he said.
Growing international role
Frédéric Jenny, Chairmanof the OECD Competition Committee, said the initiative demonstrated the growing international role of BRICS competition authorities.
"This project illustrates how BRICS competition authorities are becoming drivers of the global competition agenda. In the past, they largely followed the lead of developed jurisdictions. That is no longer the case. There are very few examples worldwide of such close cooperation between competition authorities. This applies not only to joint market studies, but also to enforcement cooperation and competition advocacy. Rather than acting individually, you have found both the mechanisms and the political will to work together," Jenny said.
The task force will now begin developing the methodology and work plan for the joint inquiry. Its findings are expected to provide policy recommendations aimed at strengthening competition, improving transparency in global grain trade, and supporting future BRICS initiatives in agricultural markets.
Hashtag: #BRICSCompetition
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