BANGKOK, 23 June 2012 – The Commerce Ministry is set to further endorse the quality of Thai food business, in hopes of turning it into a prime money-spinner for the country.
Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said on Friday that Thai exports have experienced a slow business during the past 3-4 months as some major industries are yet to fully recover from last year’s severe flooding.
Considering that, the Commerce Ministry has decided to give a boost to the Thai food industry, in a bid to expand its presence both in key and new markets.
Mr. Boonsong stated that Thai cuisine has been broadly accepted by global consumers and is the number-two money-making industry for the country.
The Commerce Minister expects the food industry to continue expanding and hopes to boost its export value to no less than 20 billion dollars this year, before striving to register a growth rate of 15 percent in 2013.
He went on to say that the Ministry has already requested a 300-million-baht budget from fiscal 2013 to further promote the “Thai Kitchen of the World” project and to expand the “Thai Select” project both in and out of the country.
Under the “Thai Select” Project, Thai restaurants that have met the Ministry’s standards will be endorsed by a certificate to ensure diners quality food and service.
Mr. Boonsong said that the Ministry is poised to expand its endorsement to Thai restaurants outside the country, by as many as 1,000.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry, on June 29th, is set to attend a workshop with the Prime Minister and related agencies as well as representatives from the private sector to discuss ways to boost Thai exports to grow no less than 15 percent, as planned.
