OTOP Fair showcases the best of Thailand
The OTOP Fair 2018 aims to dazzle visitors with creative Thai entrepreneurship from every province on full display in interactive product pavilions and events.
This year marks the seventh edition of the show, taking place from August 11 to 19, from 10.00 – 21.00 hrs., at Challenger Hall 1-3, IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center.
The ‘One Tambon One Product’ (OTOP) scheme is a grass-roots government stimulus initiative to promote entrepreneurship by endorsing homemade local products from Thai tambons or sub-districts.
The OTOP Fair 2018 features an exhibition zone to honour His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand and royal patron of Thai art and culture.
A ‘Highlight’ zone has been set up across 2,500 square metres, with a 1,000-square-metre pavilion showcasing ‘starred OTOP products’ from over 100 villages. Another 1,000-square-metre pavilion is dedicated to ‘OTOP Signature’ products from more than 40 additional provinces.
This sprawling zone also features a 250-square-metre pavilion with 12 booths showcasing textiles and products from villages surrounding the royal residences in four regions: the hand woven textile of Khao Tao village near the Klai Kangwon Palace, Prachuap Khiri Khan; the silk of Sakon Nakhon (Phu Phan Ratchaniwet Palace); the hand-woven cloth of Chiang Mai (Bhubing Rajanives Palace); and the local textile of Krok Kae Village and the finest products handmade from Yan Lipao (vine fern) and Krajood (straw reed) (Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace).
In addition, a 250-square-metre area with 16 booths showcases four types of Thai textiles, including cotton, silk, signature textiles from provinces across the country, and tribal costumes. Plus, there is a special booth providing dressmaking services and showcasing innovative basket and wickerwork production processes.
Another 2,000 booths selling items across a diverse spectrum of OTOP categories, as well as booths from the Ministry of Industry, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre and the Disabilities Thailand have been set up at the fair.
Other activities include a ‘Street Food’ zone with over 250 booths, daily live music and cultural performances, and games and lucky draws. The service zone offers health and spa services, a wi-fi corner, mobile banking units, postal unit, kid’s corner and rest area serving tea and coffee from Thailand’s four regions.