Thailand strives to increase organic exports

PHUKET: The Ministry of Commerce is pushing for organic products on the national agenda following growing demands worldwide, especially in the US and European markets.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Boonyapraphatson said the ministry would join hands with eight government and private organizations to promote Thai organic products which had become increasingly popular despite an economic slowdown over the past 1 to 2 years. The official expressed her belief that the market for organic products had a probability for further growth in the US, the world’s largest market for organic products, and Europe whose economy was starting to recover.

The ministry has set a goal to increase Thai organic products exports to 5 billion baht in the next 2 to 3 years, an increase of about 2bn baht over the current export value.

The permanent-secretary added that in addressing organic products in the national agenda, the Thai government helped promote a natural way of living, environmental conservation as well as a reduction in chemical use and genetic engineering in the agricultural sector.

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— NNT