Thai rice berry, organic rice to be promoted overseas

BANGKOK, April 7 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Commerce, is promoting Thai rice berry and organic rice overseas, while encouraging local farmers to grow more such the healthy grains in an attempt to boost national rice exports, as people worldwide now become more concerned over their health. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn told journalists on April 6 while visiting Hong Kong that her ministry plans, this year, to encourage more foreigners to consume Thai rice, especially rice berry and organic rice, as more people look after their health. Apiradi noted that more Chinese, Japanese, American and European people prefer to consume hygienic food and it is, thus, a good opportunity for Thai healthy food to penetrate these markets. Apiradi said the government has cooperated with the local private sector and farmers on growing rice berry and organic rice, as well as on the marketing. The minister expressed her confidence that Thailand should be able to export more of the healthy types of rice this year, pointing out that the prices of these kinds of rice on the world market are also about double than white rice, while competition overseas remains insignificant. (TNA)