Sales of Thai OTOP set at Bt100b in 2013

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, August 10 (TNA) - The government has set an official target for sales of Thailand's community-based products under the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) Programme) at the minimum of 100 billion baht in 2013. Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the targeted sales for Thai OTOP on Saturday morning while presiding over the opening of the nine-day OTOP fair, held at the Impact Trade and Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok from August 10-18. Yingluck said the OTOP fair is also organized to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who has set up the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (SACICT), known in Thai as the Silpa Cheep (ศิลปาชีพ) Centre, which has contributed to national economic stimulation through boosting villagers’ income. The prime minister also invited the public to wish Her Majesty the Queen a happy birthday on August 12 and distributed saplings to people to grow at their places on the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty's 81st birthday this year. More than 2,000 booths have been set up at the fair to display Thai community-based goods under the government-supported OTOP Programme. (TNA)