December 15, 2006

Japan urged to buy more Thai processed chicken 

Thailand has asked Japan to import more Thai processed chicken, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutr said Thursday (Dec 14).

Thira said he had discussed with Hideaki Kobayashi, Japanese ambassador to Thailand, on whether Japan would send experts to inspect 54 renovated and new poultry processing factories there.

Presently, Thailand exports about 150,000 tonnes of processed chicken worth approximately THB 20 billion (US$568 million) to Japan annually.

Japan, Thailand's biggest poultry buyer, in early 2004 imposed a ban on Thai poultry imports following a bird flu outbreak in the country.

It however authorised the resumption of imports of cooked Thai chicken after an inspection a few months later.

Other major issues discussed were the possibility of increasing investment between the two countries and the possibility that Thailand could export more agricultural and marine products.