Trade boost for “One Tambon’ scheme

PHUKET: Phuket has become a driving force behind moves to expand the One Tambon One Product scheme through trade agreements with other provinces. Surapol Suwankul, Chief of Phuket Provincial Commercial Office, said today, “While we have no plans at the moment to increase the number of products we make, we are now selling products to other provinces to enlarge our markets. “For example, we are selling cotton batik and pewter to Kanchanaburi. In return, Kanchanaburi is selling us silk batik and canned vegetables, especially baby corn.” He said there are plans for similar trade agreements with other provinces such as Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Surat Thani. Meanwhile, a trade delegation from Shanghai, China’s business capital, will visit Phuket on Friday to discuss tourism and trade with Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi. The Shanghai group, consisting of private enterprise leaders whom K. Surapol described as “high-powered in China”, is visiting Thailand at the invitation of the Ministry of Commerce. The delegation will also have talks in Surat Thani and Nakorn Sri Thammarat about possible sales of Thai fruits and vegetables to China.