Thailand tailors 20-year national food plan

BANGKOK, December 8 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Industry, is tailoring a 20-year national food industry promotion and development plan, the first of its kind in the country, to be in line with the government's 4.0 policy. Thai Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang on Thursday chaired a meeting of experts from about 40 relevant agencies at her ministry in Bangkok to brainstorm ideas for the drafting of the first national food industry promotion and development plan over the next two decades (2017-2036). Under the new national food industry promotion and development plan, Thailand eyes to become a kitchen of the world through the development of the domestic food industry for expanding exports to the global market. Thailand hopes to be ranked as the world's 10th largest food exporter over the next decade, with its then total food shipment value of 2.3 trillion baht, and the world's 5th largest food exporter by 2036, with its then total food shipment value of 6 trillion, from the world's 14th largest food exporter in 2016, with its total food shipment value of 950 billion baht currently. The targeted figures, if met, mean that Thailand's food exports to the world market should grow by 10 per cent annually on average over the next 20 years. To achieve the targets, the Thai Ministry of Industry will seek cooperation from all sectors to produce about new 1,800 "economic warriors" and about 35,000 start-ups in the domestic food industry to penetrate overseas food markets worldwide with their innovative and value-added food products rolled out from more creative research and development projects. The first national food industry promotion and development plan is expected to be forwarded to the Thai Cabinet for further consideration and decision by the end of this year. Meanwhile, National Food Institute (NFI) Director Yongvuth Saowapruk told reporters that the first national food industry promotion and development plan will focus on promoting Thai food produce for the future, namely healthy food, food for people of all ages,halal food, food for prevention and treatment of specific diseases and supplementary food items. The NFI chief revealed that Japan has already sought Thai exports of halal food products to serve its Muslim tourists. (TNA)