Commerce Ministry invites Hong Kong’s rice importers to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, Oct 30 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry invites Hong Kong’s rice importers to visit Thailand to further promote Thai rice in the major market. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said Thailand already restored its rice market share in Hong Kong after losing it to key competitors previously. Today Thailand dominates nearly 70% in the Hong Kong rice market. In the first nine months of this year Thailand exported rice worth US$124.54 million to Hong Kong. The Commerce Ministry has been proactive in rice promotion in Hong Kong. Its activities include visits of Thai authorities and traders to Hong Kong and invitations for Hong Kong rice importers to visit Thailand. Apart from Hom Mali fragrant rice, Hong Kong rice importers start to be interested in other types of Thai rice including brown rice and organic rice to meet the demand of health conscious consumers. In the last quarter of this year the Commerce Ministry organizes meetings for international rice importers and Thai rice traders. The importers include 37 operators from Hong Kong. They are discussing deals with almost 100 Thai rice traders in Thailand from Oct 30 to Nov 2. On the occasion, representatives of 759 Store Co that is a big importer and operates 224 stores in Hong Kong will sign a memorandum of understanding to buy 14,000 tons of Hom Mali, brown, organic and Riceberry rice from Thai traders. Hong Kong traders will also inspect royal development projects and the production of Hom Mali fragrant rice in Ubon Ratchathani province. (TNA)