Despite slowing economic growth in the European Union, Thailand will continue to promote organic rice in the market, as demand there is still high.

Pranee Siriphand, deputy director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that although purchasing power in the EU was expected to drop because of its financial crunch, spending in the high-end market would not be affected.

Organic rice and other organic products are considered premium goods and are in high demand by health-consciousness consumers, she said.

Last year, the EU imported 3,200 tonnes of organic rice from Thailand, accounting for 67 per cent of the total export volume of organic rice from this country.

The department projects sales of organic rice continuing to grow by 10-15 per cent this year.

Demand for imported organic rice in the EU is expected to remain strong because of emerging health concerns and the growing Asian population - people for whom rice is a major staple.

To promote the growth of Thai organic rice and other specialised rice varieties that have obtained geographic indication certificates, the department will lead Thai organic rice exporters to BioFach, the world's largest trade fair for organic foods and agriculture products.

BioFach is held each year in February in Nuremberg, Germany. This year it will run from February 13-20.

More than 44,000 trade visitors are expected, while it will bring together 2,500 exhibitors from around the world.

Source: The Nation