Thai food industry prepares for AEC

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, October 31 (TNA) This year's Makro HoReCa, an annual festival for the Thai food industry, is oganized at the Impact Trade and Exhibition Convention Center in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok from October 3-November 3, 2013, aimed to prepare Thai operators in the food industry for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. Deputy Commerce Minister Yanyong Phuangrach on Thursday opened the Makro HoReCa 2013, the 8th of its kind, under the theme of “Business Development to Welcome ASEAN Allies”, organized by Siam Makro Public Company Limited, the operator of the Makro Wholesale Center. The four-day event brings together hotel, restaurant and catering business entrepreneurs in Thailand and provides them with a good opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences for their further business development in the lead-up to the formation of the AEC by 2015. Activities at the event include a panel discussion among successful professional chefs, seminars on “Views and Influences of AEC on Thai Restaurants” and “Food Processing Business Opportunities in ASEAN”, as well as hundreds of booths selling food products and kitchen supplies with specially-offered prices. Another highlight is the International Cuisine Culinary Challenge Competition, from which the selected winner will be competing with contestants from other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the “Food & Hotel Asia 2014” set to be held in Singapore in April 2014. (TNA)