Organic fair set for next July

The Commerce Ministry has joined with a German organiser to hold an international event aimed at upgrading Thailand to become a hub for organic products in Asean.

The move is part of a project to double the growth rate of the Thai organic market, now worth 2.7 billion baht, to 20% a year.

Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with a German firm, Nuernberg-Messe, to hold the Biofach fair in Bangkok in mid-2018, expecting to attract international companies and buyers to Thai and Asean organic products.

Biofach is an annual event exhibiting organic food, drinks and other items.

“Thailand would be sixth after the company held the fair in China, the US, India, Brazil and Germany,” Ms Apiradi said, adding that the event is scheduled for July 12-15, 2018 in Bangkok.

She said the event is expected to help support organic products in Thailand and Asean, where the geographical landscape is uniform enough to make organic products of a consistent standard to supply the world.

Ms Apiradi said the world market for organic products is worth about 3 trillion baht a year, implying enough room for Thai and Asean products to grow.

In Thailand, the Commerce Ministry will work with related organisations, particularly the Agriculture Ministry, to lend support to farmers who meet global organic standards.

The Commerce Ministry will work closely with state agencies and the private sector to enter new markets and increase demand for farmers’ organic produce.

Ms Apiradi said the ongoing cooperation is expected to drive revenue generated by organic products higher this year.

Of the 2.7-billion-baht organic market in Thailand, exports account for 1.1 billion and domestic sales for 1.6 billion, according to Commerce Ministry data.