Thai OTOPs to be offered at large retailers

BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Commerce, supports community goods under the One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) Scheme to be on sale at large retail stores in the country. Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Bunyapraphasara told journalists on Wednesday that her ministry's Department of Business Development has invited about 30 big retailers to meet selected OTOP producers at the ministry in Bangkok on June 15-16 so that they could seal business deals. Chutima said that the invited large retailers include King Power, CP ALL, Boon Rawd, Central Food Retail, The Mall Group and other operators of well-known local and international shop channels. Chutima noted that the two-day activity, comprising a fair of food, beverages, souvenirs, clothes and non-food herbal products and business-matching sessions, is aimed at marketing OTOPs and distributing incomes to local communities. The senior official stressed that the activity serves her ministry’s plan to promote OTOPs locally and internationally, with the value of trade during the two-day activity alone expected to reach at least 60 million baht. Besides, her ministry has other plans to promote OTOPs, including value addition, presentations, brand development, model shops, franchise business, online markets and shop channels. (TNA)