Thailand to export rice, durian via Alibaba

BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) – The Commerce Ministry plans to promote the export of rice and durian via the networks of Alibaba Group. Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said that export promotion for rice and durian would be among activities to happen under four memorandums of understanding that the Thai government sector signed with Alibaba Group. Rice and durian would be available through Alibaba Group’s online platform and were expected to precede other Thai farm products to be promoted through e-commerce, he said. Mr Sontirat was at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) to open the Style April 2018 fair. Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, said the fair gather fashion products, gifts, home decorations and furniture. About 600 companies including small- and medium-sized enterprises are showing their products in 1,700 booths. She expected about 60,000 visitors from many countries to the fair set at BITEC from April 19 to 23. Mr Sontirat said the fair should involve trade worth 3.8 billion baht, up from 3 billion baht in the same fair last year. (TNA)