July 27, 2010

Thai agricultural consulting centre to be launched in Los Angeles

The Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has prepared to launch an agricultural consulting office in Los Angeles in the US, with the aim to promote Thai agricultural exports.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Sakchai Sriboonsue stated that the ministry was conducting a meeting with high-level officials of the US Agricultural Ministry on the matter. The meeting also discussed the arrangement of Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural research and development between the two countries' ministries.

Meanwhile, there will be a meeting with US Custom and plant protection organisation for bilateral understanding in the export-import procedure of agricultural and food products.

Thailand has exported agricultural and food products to US at about THB120 billion (US$3.7 billion) each year, gaining surplus balance in this sector at THB90-100 million (US$2.8-3.1 million). Thailand is the number four country exporting those products to the US following Canada, Mexico and China. Furthermore, Thailand is the number one exporter in shrimp, tuna, rice and animal feed to US with the highest market share.