Thai GI products promoted nationwide

BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) - The government will soon list "Bang Mod" oranges and "Bang Khun Thian" lychees to be "geographical identity" products of Bangkok, while promoting the country's all other 77 provinces to each develop and list at least its own GI provincial product. Government Spokesman Lieutenant General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists on June 4 that the Thai government will carry on its "one province, one GI product" program to support local people to produce at least a provincial value-added product in order to not only raise income of the locals, but also become a marketing tool for each province to earn more revenues and to attract more international visitors. The spokesman explained that the listing of GI products is a form of protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) of local producers and showing a connection between local products and their origins. For Bangkok, the spokesman stressed, the government will soon list "Bang Mod" oranges and "Bang Khun Thian" lychees to become the GI products of the capital. According to the spokesman, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has already been informed that there are now 75 GI products in 70 Thai provinces nationwide, covering local rice strains, food items, fruits, wine and pottery products. The spokesman said the Thai government has opened the "GI Corner" at two large-scaled retail stores in Greater Bangkok, including the Food Hall of Central Department Store, Chidlom Branch in Bangkok, and the Top Market of Central Plaza on Chaeng Wattana Road on the outskirts of the capital. The spokesman stated that the Thai government plans to open 100 GI Corners at large-scaled retail stores in Greater Bangkok by the end of this year. Besides, the government plans to also help upgrade local high quality GI products and their packaging attractions to meet demands of more modern consumers presently. (TNA)