PM headed to Europe for restaurant MoU

PM headed to Europe for restaurant MoU

The Commerce Ministry is expected to prepare a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote Thai restaurants in Britain and France during Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's upcoming European trip.

The move is part of the government's plan to revitalise the Kitchen of the World campaign, a scheme to make Thailand a major world food exporter, expand food startups and ramp up support to promote Thai restaurants overseas, as Thailand aims to boost food exports to contribute more than 6% of the country's GDP.

During the Europe trip, Gen Prayut is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Theresa May in Britain and President Emmanuel Macron in France. He is scheduled to meet the British premier on June 20 and the French leader on June 25, the last day of his trip.

Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said the MoU was developed by the related government agencies.

"Thai food is well known globally, but many do not have authentic Thai taste because many Thai dishes are cooked by chefs from China, Vietnam and Myanmar, not Thai chefs," Mr Sontirat said, adding that many genuine Thai dishes are made from a variety of ingredients from Thai farmers.

The government's mission for the Kitchen of the World campaign is to ensure that Thai food products come with safety and hygiene standards along with good taste, as required by international rules.

Food exports will help to boost farmers' income, which contributes more than 6% of the country's GDP. Value-added agricultural products will increase income in rural areas.

The country's food exports amounted to 1 trillion baht last year, with more than 70% of food consumed domestically and the remaining 30% exported.

The top 10 export products are rice, processed chicken, canned and processed seafood, frozen and processed shrimp, and food seasonings. The country is ranked 15th among food exporters, making up 2.3% of the total world food market.

Separately, Mr Sontirat said the ministry will join with the Finance Ministry to further develop state welfare cards by encouraging more shops to apply for the QR code system in order to increase alternatives for cardholders to buy pork, fresh vegetables and noodles in many fresh markets, including retail shops under the Thong Fah Pracha Rat scheme.

There will be at least 100,000 shops that cardholders can make payments to, with the QR code system expected to commence in July.

Cardholders can only use their cards through electronic data capture devices.

Mr Sontirat said the Commerce and Finance ministries are aiming to help other shops outside the Thong Fah Pracha Rat scheme join the QR code payment programme.

"We are so far 80% complete and the QR code system will be scanned by a mobile application designed by the government," he said. "But the general public can also pay through the same QR code through financial institution applications."

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