Thai Seafood Firm To Use Malaysia As Springboard Into Other Muslim Market

BANGKOK, May 24 (Bernama) -- Pacific Fish Processing Co (PFP), a frozen seafood company in Thailand, will use Malaysia as a springboard to enter the halal food market in other Islamic countries. Chairman Tawee Piyapatana said the company is currently negotiating with Simpee Huat Frozen Food Sdn Bhd to set up a joint factory by next year with an investment of 150 million baht (1 baht=US$0.027). "Having a production base in Malaysia, which has a good reputation in halal food, will help us expand to Muslim countries in line with government policy to push export of Thai halal food," he was quoted as saying by the local media Tuesday. The joint factory, he said would have a capacity of between 200 tonnes and 300 tonnes of seafood a month, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first export market. The company expected to sell 30 tonnes of seafood including tofu substitute made from fish to the UAE in its first year of operation in the Middle Eastern country, he said, adding sales are forecast to increase 50 per cent in the coming years. Thailand aims to become the world's top five halal food exporters within the next five years. Tawee said the global seafood demand was still increasing and the company would continue to expand its distribution channels in the European and North American market, which have high consumer spending power. In the Asian market, the company would focus on China, the biggest market for crabstick products, as well as markets in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, he added. -- BERNAMA