Thailand organizes inaugural food promotion event in Hong Kong

The first-ever Thai food promotion event, 'The Culinary Art of Thai Cuisine 2021' was successfully held on 11 April, reflecting Hongkongers' passion for Thai food.

Organized by The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government, together with two other co-organizers, 759 Stores and Sav Hospitality Limited, it is aimed at sustaining and enhancing Thai food’s market share in Hong Kong (both dine-in and dine-out experience), and educating local consumers on the uniqueness of Thai food culture.

Thailand is renowned as the ‘Kitchen of the World’, supplying a wide variety of food and agricultural-based products to Hong Kong. In addition to local consumption, Hong Kong, as a free port, also serves as an entrepot gateway into China and to the rest of the world.

The event saw DITP Hong Kong showcasing different Thai brands available in the local market to enhance the image of Thai products. Mrs Chanunpat Pisanapipong, Executive Director of DITP Hong Kong, has invited celebrity guests who are Thai-related in terms of their Thai root, business connections or partnerships with Thailand, to commemorate the event. Also organized was a cooking competition to educate guests on cooking Thai food and become their own chef at home.

To ensure the quality and authenticity of Thai food around the world, DITP has created the ‘Thai SELECT’ certificate (www.thaiselect.com) to identify Thai restaurants that meet their high standards monitored by the committees in different countries. Currently, 32 Thai SELECT restaurants in Hong Kong have garnered 3 Thai Select logos.  

The congenial relation between Thailand and Hong Kong has been maintained for decades. On international trade, Hong Kong is the 8th largest trading partner of Thailand. The fact that home dining is now the norm has driven the growing demand for cooking ingredients and other food products from Thailand.

Since 2020, Thailand’s food exports to Hong Kong have increased by more than 25%, especially in fresh fruit products such as durian and coconut. Meat items also see a strong demand, not to mention its status as the number 1 rice supplier to Hong Kong.