Bangkok--Oct 9--EXIM Thailand
Mr.Sataporn Jinachitra, President of Export-Import Bank of Thailnad (EXIM Thailand) said the EXIM Thailand it organizing the "On the Road to...Kitchen of the World" Seminar on Tuesday, November 16, 2004, at 08.30-16.00 hrs. at Merchant Court Hotel on Ratchadapisek Road to foster Thai restaurant entrepreneurs' understanding of the opportunities, obstacles and solutions to their problems relevant to Thai restaurant overseas investors. The seminar is free of charge with the objective to enhance the competitiveness of Thai investors and standard of Thai restaurants abroad.
EXIM Thailand President said close collaboration between public and private sectors will certainly contribute to the successful implementation of the government's policy in developing Thailand into the Kitchen of the World, which aims to increase the numbers of Thai restaurants overseas from 6,875 in 2003 to 20,000 by 2008 in order to increase value added of Thai agricultural exports. It is important for Thai restaurant investors to be equipped with good understanding and proper knowledge about how to make business plans and develop their human resources in line with the international standard in order to be successful and to fully utilize Thailand's comparative advantage of being one of the world's biggest exporter and producer of food and processed agricultural products.
According to Mr.Sataporn, overseas Thai restaurants are atill limited in the locations of major markets. In 2003, 49% of over 6,800 Thai restaurants overseas are in the United States and Canada while 20% in Europe, 15% in Australia ans New Zealand, 14% in Asia and 2% in the other countries. A Key to the success of "Kitchen of the World" campaign is to encourage more restaurant investments in the new but promising markets in Middle East and Europe, namely, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Russia, Belgium and Czech Republic and enhance the standard of existing Thai restaurants abroad. The seminar is, therefore, set up to furnish Thai exporters of goods and services with comprehensive knowledge ranging from the process of raw material production to preservation of authentic Thai cuisine's standard and uniqueness, even though some adaptation to local taste may be needed.
The morning session of seminar will begin with the lectures on overall picture of Thai restaurant overseas, importance of food safety in foreign markets, importance of human resources in Thai restaurants overseas and related restriction, popularity of Thai food, joint-ventured business in support of Kitchen of the World's campaign and Financing Facility for Thai Restaurants Overseas. In the afternoon, there is a panel discussion on business operations of Thai restaurants overseas by successful business persons, namely, Mrs.Kessuda Raiva, Managing Director, S&P Global Co.,Ltd., Mr.Chachaval Sukitjavanich, owner of four branches of Thai Thani Restaurants in the United States and Mr.Torsak Chotimongkol, owner of Thai Cuisine in Brussels, Belgium. Those interested in attending the seminar are welcome to contact the International Project Division 1, EXIM Thailand's International Project Department, Tel. 0 2271 3700 ext.2610-6
For more information please contact:
Public Rolations Division,Office of Top Managerment
Tel. 0 2271 3700,0 2617 2111,0 2278 0047 ext.1142-5 End.