The Ministry of Commerce is gearing up to promote organic Thai jasmine rice in Australia following the increasing popularity of Thai rice down under.

Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade Pranee Siriphan said on Friday that the department would lead Thai trade representatives to promote Thai rice at the Fine Food Australia 2013 to be organized at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sydney, Australia from 7-13 September 2013. The department chose Australia since Thai rice had been well received by the country and its demand there was rising, Ms Pranee said.

Australia imports around 20-25 tons of organic Thai jasmine rice each year. From January to June 2013, 17.7 tons of rice worth 1.28 million baht was exported to the country. The director-general said the department was confident the rice would do very well in Australia as Australians were health-conscious and had high purchasing power.

The Fine Food Australia is the largest food and beverage fair in Australia. Most of the visitors are businessmen, importers, retailers, wholesalers, sales representatives and restaurateurs.

Source:  National News Bureau & Public Relations