Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and Department of Foreign Trade (DFT), thru Thai Trade Center in Manila participated in World Food Expo (WOFEX) 2023 under the booth name “Think Rice, Think Thailand.” Held at booth 1075 in hall 4, SMX Convention Center Manila from August 2-5, 2023, the event aimed to increase an awareness of Thai Rice, actively promote Thai rice in the Philippine market, and explore opportunities for enhanced rice trade and cooperation between Thailand and the Philippines. With the theme ” Think Rice Think Thailand: We Serve the Best Quality Rice to the World.”, the booth successfully showcased the popularity of Thai rice among Filipinos, marking the achievement of a strengthened collaboration and promising future prospects for the two nations.
The Opening Ceremony of “Think Rice Think Thailand” Booth
The event was an unprecedented triumph, attracting over 1,500 visitors and generating sales around 4.50 million USD, underscoring the widespread popularity of Thai rice among Filipinos. This success was achieved through collaboration with three esteemed Filipino importers and distributors, namely North Pasadena Wholesaling Co., Goldmine Rice Marketing, and ECT Enterprises, who played a pivotal role in importing Thai rice products.
Filipino Rice Importers in the Opening Ceremony
Another highlight of the event was the captivating food demonstration sessions, featuring acclaimed Thai SELECT restaurants in Metro Manila. These restaurants, including Benjarong, Samyan, Nara Thai, Thai BBQ, Greyhound Café, and Mango Tree, tantalized taste buds with a diverse array of Thai rice dishes, showcasing the culinary excellence of Thailand.
A Thai Cooking Demonstration
Ms. Janthana Chotimunee, the director of the Thai Trade Center in Manila, expressed her delight at the overwhelming success of the event, emphasizing that Thai rice has genuinely won the hearts of Filipino consumers. This participation marks the success of a strengthened collaboration between the two nations, addressing food security challenges by forging a mutually beneficial relationship for shared prosperity in the future.
Ms. Janthana Chotimunee, the director of the Thai Trade Center in Manila
The DITP highly values the cooperation extended by the Filipino importers and Thai select restaurants, which further solidifies Thailand’s reputation as a global hub for high-quality rice. Beyond its commercial success, this initiative also presents an opportunity for Thailand to support the Philippines in tackling food security challenges, given its expertise in rice production and trade.
For those interested in receiving further updates and information, the Thai Trade Center in Manila’s Facebook page is the ideal platform to follow. To inquire or seek assistance in finding the right partners in Thailand, interested parties are encouraged to reach out via email at thaicommnl@ymail.com.
