April 23, 2014

Thai chicken producers urged to build brand of chicken exports

The Thai commerce ministry has called on the Thai private sector to build the brand of Thai chicken for export to the same level as that of the widely-known "Aussie Beef."

Nantawan Sakuntanak, director-general of the Thai foreign trade department, said that Thai exporters of fresh and processed chicken should continuously promote and create understanding of the taste, quality and safety of Thai products among foreign consumers.

Nantawan said that Japan's lifting of its ban on poultry import from Thailand last December contributed to rising supplies from Thailand--a major world producer of chicken--particularly during the recent poultry shortage in Japan due to the bird flu pandemic.

Phatai Sooksommai, director of Thailand's Foreign Trade Office in Tokyo, said the retail and non-manufacturing sectors have extensively expanded. Operators of three major convenience store chains in Japan plan an increase of 4,500 outlets this year and 4,800 outlets next year, he said.