Fifth organic products expo to highlight Thai status as hub

The fifth annual edition of the event, with the theme of "A Good Life, an Organic Life", will showcase the biggest line-up of organic and natural products and services in Thailand. It will run from July 23-26 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok.

It will also underscore the organic-products industry as one of Thailand’s newfound strengths in the global market, making it a major organic-products hub in Asean.

Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary of the ministry, said yesterday that consumers in Thailand and other countries were now concerned by the risks in consuming food produced with significant use of chemicals.

They are showing more interest in products with health and environmental benefits, giving rise to a health-conscious lifestyle trend, she said.

This, coupled with many countries’ more stringent hygiene measures, has led to an increase in demand for organic food worldwide.

Recent reports show that the global organic-products market has hit Bt2.3 trillion, which means that the market has increased in size by 2.5 times, despite the economic troubles in Europe and the United States in the past decade.

Thailand is seen as a source of quality organic products, complete with certification from domestic and international organisations.

Thailand’s most popular organic crop is rice, and the country has the distinction of having the world’s biggest land area for organic rice farming. Organic jasmine rice is a product in especially high demand across Europe and has great potential to reach out to other markets in the future.

As a key exporter of agricultural products, Thailand has a chance to develop its strengths as an organic-goods producer for domestic and international sales in order to become one of the leading players globally, Chutima said.

The public sector is ready to lend support to this initiative through measures that boost manufacturing and marketing capacity.

The Commerce Ministry’s strategy for 2014-16 covers five primary directions – developing knowledge and understanding of organic-products marketing, developing up-to-date marketing databases for a proactive approach, expanding domestic and international markets, expanding product variety, and integrating policy support from other organisations.

The ministry says it recognises the importance of this market and is ready to provide full backing for Thai organic products in order to raise awareness and build widespread acceptance.

This year’s Organic and Natural Expo is the biggest trade show for organic and natural products in Thailand. It brings together manufacturers, businesses and consumers, providing opportunities to expand the market and foster a greater understanding of these products.

It also serves as a stage for businesses to exchange their experiences and expertise in organic products – including everything from manufacturing and standardisation to marketing and creation of added value.

All of these will help strengthen all stakeholders, ranging from farmers and manufacturers to consumers, as well as the image of Thai organic products and services in the eyes of the world.

The expo is expecting to welcome at least 40,000 visitors to 300 booths from 200 retailers spread across zones for each product category.

The categories include food products such as rice, fruits and vegetables; processed foods; beverages; non-food products such as skincare products and clothes; and services like organic restaurants, hotels and spas.

The show floor is divided into five zones – international certified organic products, domestic certified organic products, natural products, green shops and services, and organic cafes.

The associated "Organic Symposium" will also be held on July 26 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.