14/11/05 PEKANBARU, Riau (Asia Pulse) - A number of Thai business leaders said they are interested to establish rubber and oil palm plantations in Riau, Sumatra, the Bisnis Indonesia daily reported.

Quoting the chairperson of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Somkiat Anuras, the daily said the business leaders are also interested in building bio-diesel plants to provide an alternative source of energy in the country.

Somkiat said Thailand has limited land area for expansion of rubber and oil palm plantations.

He said the group, here to attend an Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle meeting, wanted to open at least 200,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in Riau.

He said the group also wanted to build rubber processing plants in South Sumatra.

(ANTARA)