Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has directed all government agencies to implement measures to stabilise prices for agricultural products.
At a policy meeting with senior officials from various ministries and agencies on May 7, she said the Commerce Ministry has an essential role in supporting agricultural products, as prices are dropping amid a supply glut compared with previous years.
The Thai PM called for collaboration among related bodies, including the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, to enhance the value of these crops.
She encouraged the acceleration of the "Thai Select" initiative, which certifies high-quality Thai products to promote exports, particularly to assist Thai restaurants abroad in using quality Thai ingredients, which benefits farmers' incomes.
The PM also instructed relevant agencies to close legal loopholes that allow nominee businesses to operate, enforce stricter quality checks, and monitor factories and companies suspected of illegal practices, such as employing undocumented foreign workers.
Paetongtarn called for reviews of investment promotion conditions to encourage the use of domestic labour and inputs, in addition to improving the efficiency of the certificate of origin process.
In 2024, Thai exports totalled 301 billion USD, up 5.4% year-on-year. In the first quarter of this year, exports amounted to 81.5 billion USD, a 15.2% increase year-on-year with a trade surplus of 1.08 billion USD./.
