Thailand Promotes GI Products and 'Thai SELECT' to Boost Global Food Culture

The Thai Ministry of Commerce has announced a strategy to enhance the international promotion of Thai cuisine by integrating Geographical Indication (GI) products with the 'Thai SELECT' restaurant certification system. As part of this initiative, the ministry organized an event for media representatives to showcase menus featuring select GI-certified products. This promotion aims to elevate the overall brand value of Thai cuisine by combining GI products, which are cultivated domestically and recognized for their unique regional quality and characteristics, with the 'Thai SELECT' certification for restaurants that meet international standards. By presenting these offerings to the media, the ministry intends to widely publicize the richness and diversity of Thai food, as well as the appeal of specialty products from various regions, thereby encouraging the establishment of Thai restaurants abroad and expanding exports of GI products. The GI system protects and certifies products originating from specific regions that possess unique qualities and reputations tied to their locality. Thailand boasts a variety of GI-certified products, including mangoes, coffee, and rice. 'Thai SELECT' is a certification awarded by the Thai government to restaurants that meet recommended standards for Thai food taste, hygiene, and service, serving as an indicator for enjoying authentic Thai cuisine with confidence internationally. This showcase of GI menus represents a significant step in strategically utilizing these two systems to further penetrate the global market with Thai culinary culture, contributing to the strengthening of the international competitiveness of Thailand's entire food industry.