His Excellency the Minister of Commerce,
Friends from the food and restaurant industry,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here in New York and take part in the “Thai Restaurant Week”. I have been informed that Thai food and restaurants are popular amongst New Yorkers. This is a great compliment since New York has so much high quality cuisine from all over the world.
For Thailand, food and agricultural food products are not only a key export and industry but also an important part of our cultural heritage. We are proud in promoting Thai food and agricultural products as well as Thai restaurants overseas. We are pleased that Americans enjoy Thai food and New York is home to one of the largest numbers of Thai restaurants outside Thailand.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With annual revenue from food exports exceeding 20 billion dollars a year and being the world’s largest exporter of rice last year, Thailand is a major provider of food and agricultural products to the world. Our success is due to the strength of our farmers and natural resources, advanced technology in food processing, innovative product development and strategic marketing. Thai food is also popular because Thai ingredients can complement other cuisines.
Despite our successes, we aim to produce and export even more to the world. This is because global demand for food and food products continues to increase while climate change and natural disasters have affected supply. The issue of food security is becoming more important and we will play our part.
That is why Thailand launched the “Kitchen to the World” campaign. Our goal is to find ways to produce more food and food products that meet international standards and are tailor made to meet the needs of our customers. But most important is food quality. We will produce quality food products that will benefit the health of consumers. Food safety is our top priority.
Lastly, may I take this opportunity to congratulate all of you that are receiving the “Thai Select Award.” Your achievements will help make Thai food even more well known in this city.
I wish to thank all of you here, whether in the industry or simply as a lover of Thai food, for helping us promote our cuisine. I am confident that our kitchen to the world campaign will make your experience with Thai food even more enjoyable.
Thank you.