Bangkok is readying itself for THAIFEX – World of Food ASIA 2014, which is the third largest food industry expo in Asia. About 96,000 buyers from around the globe are expected to descend upon Bangkok’s IMPACT Arena from May 24 to 28, raising revenue of 5 billion baht (US$154 million).

THAIFEX will include exhibitions on Thai SELECT food, High Quality Halal Food of the World and the Thailand Trust Mark, as well as a Thai Organic pavilion, and the third Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge.

“THAIFEX will help Thailand establish itself as Kitchen of the World” says Nantawan Sakuntanaga, the director-general of the DITP.

For more information on THAIFEX, please visit www.ThailandFoodFair.com.

Duangkamol Jiambutr, deputy director-general of the DITP paid a visit to the cities of Thimphu and Paro in Bhutan with 17 representatives from Thai companies between April 22 and 26. The aim of the trip was to foster trade and investment links between the two countries as well as to improve tourism.

Jiambutr said that Bhutan offered trade and investment opportunities as well as for the promotion of Thai products through greater market research.

Trade between two countries was valued at US$5.6 million in 2013 and is expected to double according to Chakporn Oonjitt, executive director of Construction Institute of Thailand.

Amparwon Pichalai, the vice director-general of the DITP, announced the government’s plan to improve Thai logistics in collaboration with the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industry, Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL and Toyota this month.

The DITP’s AEC Blueprint strategy aims at improving the country’s logistics sector in order for it to compete internationally.

“The cost of logistics is an obstacle to trading,” said Pichalai, “Since 2007, Thailand’s logistic cost has decreased from 19percent to 14 percent, however in developed countries the cost is less than 10 percent.”

Srirat Rastapana, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, attended the Bangkok International Gift and Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG & BIH) in April. Held at the BITEC Bangna in Bangkok from April 19 to 23, the fair saw 1,146 booths featuring 418 companies from Thailand and countries as diverse as Japan, Myanmar, Taiwan, China and the US.

One highlight was the Big Toy Design Innovation award that this year saw three groups of designers  – Rubber Only, Aromdee, and N*Doo –  being rewarded for their multi-generational interaction toys’ design concept. Apart from Big Toy Design Innovation 2014, there were many key activities such as Asia Talents, I+D Style Café and Top of OTOP which promotes Thai lifestyle products into global markets.

One of the country’s major trade shows, Thailand Auto Parts and Accessories (TAPA) 2014 – was held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) from April 28 to May 1.

Speaking at the launch of the fair, Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director general of the DITP said that the department had been coordinating with major businesses in China, Malaysia, the US, India and Singapore in order to expand trade between those countries and Thailand. More than 16,000 visitors were expected over the four days of the event generating revenue of 800 million baht (US$24.6 million).

“Overall production target in 2014 is 2.4 million cars with 1.2 million for exporting and 1.2 million cars to be traded domestically,” she said.

Thai Office of Commercial Affairs in Moscow organised a Pre-BIFF & BIL 2014 Exhibition (Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair 2014) on March 5 as a precursor to the main event held from March 12 to 16 in Bangkok.

The Pre-BIFF & BIL Exhibition comprised of complimentary Thai food and drink and a sneak-peek of Thailand’s latest fashion from Kai Boutique. The event was a huge success. BIFF & BIL is the biggest fashion expo in Thailand, and takes place annually in March, at the IMPACT Arena, Bangkok. Wholesalers, importers, designers, exporters and manufacturers enjoy the trade opportunities offered at BIFF & BIL each year.