Serious promotion for local products including online channels

BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) – The government is actively promoting outstanding local products through various channels including online ones, expecting to raise income from them to more than 180 billion baht this year. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak on Friday chaired the meeting of the government’s national One-Tambon-One-Product (OTOP) committee that discussed the serious promotion through online channels. The government plans to raise OTOP income from 153 billion baht last year by 20% to 184 billion baht this year. The committee resolved to develop 150 local products in tourist villages in 49 provinces. Officials will work with universities on product designs and the development of souvenirs made from processed food and farm products. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will organise OTOP fairs targeting foreign tourists to encourage them to visit the provinces that are the sources of OTOP products. Besides, the Community Development Department will develop local products to meet market demands and increase the number of OTOP products from 126,462 by 75,332. Kulanee Isdisai, director-general of the Department of Business Development, said concerned authorities would have to study the behaviours of consumers, especially Chinese tourists, to make OTOP products meet their demands. About 100,000 OTOP products would be marketed via websites including Thaitrade.com and be available at Don Mueang Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, Chiang Rai and U-Tapao airports and aboard airplanes, she said. (TNA)