Government to boost exports of Thai halal products

BANGKOK, August 20 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Industry, plans to invest over 7.9 billion baht to promote Thai halal products and to boost their exports. Permanent Secretary for Industry Atchaka Sibunruang told journalists of the plan on Thursday, saying her ministry has set a target to boost exports of Thai halal products, especially food, to stand on the world's top five list by 2020, through the over 7.9-billion- baht-investment plan, starting from 2016. To meet the set target, Atchaka noted that four major strategies have been laid out, including building up potential on further developing standard and certification of Thai halal products to meet internationally-recognised standards, as well as on developing goods manufacturing and research and strategies of Thai halal products to strengthen the Thai halal industry in the long-term, along with upgrading marketing plans and image of Thai halal products. Although Thailand's manufacturers and quality control of halal products have already met international standards, Atchaka suggested that Thai manufacturers further develop themselves for widely global recognition. Currently, Atchaka acknowledged, there are more than 1.7 billion Muslim consumers worldwide and they are expected to increase to 2.8 billion by 2050. The senior official pointed out people who consume halal food are not only Muslims, but non-Muslims too; so halal food has a large proportion of global market share. According to a royal command, officially announced on late Thursday afternoon, Atchaka, who is also a former secretary-general of the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), has been appointed the new Thai Industry Minister.(TNA)