More than 700 people agricultural traders, buyers, academics and specialists connected with exporters at the World Tapioca Conference in Pattaya.
Tapioca planting associations and farmers throughout Thailand joined the June 24 convention organized by the Department of Foreign Trade and Chonburi Province at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradee Thantharaporn said the World Tapioca Conference serves as the central stage for traders, buyers, academics and specialists to meet with producers.
The “Think Tapioca … Think Thailand” conference emphasized the massive growth toward a sustainable future in recent years.
Deputy Commerce Minister Apiradee Thantharaporn provides an opening speech for the World Tapioca Conference.
Activities included speeches about the industry’s future prospects, ASEAN trade and the import-export market. An exhibition was also available focusing on the benefits of tapioca and tapioca products from Thailand.
On display were alternative-energy projects, the tapioca market intervention project, the green industry, as well as a product showcase on tapioca farming and related machinery.
The exhibition was supported by the Thai Tapioca Development Institute, Rayong Field Crops Research Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thai Bioplastics Industry Association and various educational institutions.
An MOU signing ceremony also took place between Japan and Thailand at the conference. Shown here, Liu Hong (left) from Japan and Chen Wongboonsin (right) from General Mills Corporation Ltd., Thailand seal the deal with a handshake.
Apart from the exhibition, trade-negotiation strategies were offered as well. This portion of the conference offered areas conducive to business negotiations for exporters, importers and traders of tapioca looking for deals.
The government also took advantage of the opportunity to promote government-to-government trade with foreign representatives.
Thailand is the world’s top producer and exporter of tapioca. The objective of the conference was to strengthen relationships among participants and to offer an opportunity for exporters and traders to network and exchange information.
