Growing popularity for Thailand's community products

BANGKOK, August 22 (TNA) - Thailand's community goods under the government-sponsored One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) Program have been increasingly popular among both local and foreign consumers. Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists of the sound prospect on August 21, saying that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has, thus, given a policy on promoting and supporting OTOP items on a long-term basis in order to sustain global recognition. The spokesman stated that the Thai government's continual support for OTOP items will be in the forms of the provision of financial sources and markets, as well as technologies and innovations. The spokesman revealed that the prime minister has stressed on the policy in response to a continual success of the Silpachip OTOP Fair, the 5th of its kind this year held at the IMPACT Trade and Exhibition in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok during August 12-20. The spokesman acknowledged there were over 2,500 booths participating in the nine-day event that attracted over 440,000 international visitors and generated a total revenue of over 839.53 million baht. "The prime minister expressed his satisfaction with the sale at the 5th Silpachip OTOP Fair, as it exceeded an earlier target, and thanked the Interior Ministry for giving importance and extending continual support for OTOP-related projects, leading to their expanding markets, while urging local producers to further develop their products to add their values and meet market demand in order to raise their incomes and quality of life eventually. (TNA)