Government promotes Thai food to ensure 8% export growth

NONTHABURI, May 30 (TNA) -- The government is determined to seriously promote Thai food internationally to realise its 8% export growth goal. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak announced the stance while opening the THAIFEX – World of Food Asia 2018. He said Thailand’s exports in the food sector exceeded 1 trillion baht annually and had a 2.3% share in the world’s food market. Thailand is the 15th biggest food exporter of the world. International Thai food promotion would include the production of world-class Thai chefs, food innovations and health-promoting foods from regions in the country, Mr Somkid said. The government would present the diversity of Thai crops and fruits and their health promotion benefits. The promotion would also help attract foreign tourists to the provinces that were the sources of promoted crops and fruits, he said. The government hoped that the promotion would boost the popularity of Thai fruits like durian that has been excessively ordered by Chinese people. The government was focusing on the quality, safety and innovative aspects of Thai food, Mr Somkid said. He cited tuna products were being expanded from canned tuna, to calcium and cosmetic products. Online marketing was another area for the promotion of Thai foods, the deputy prime minister said.(TNA)