Bangkok: Mr. Napintorn Srisanpang, Deputy Minister of Commerce, addressed recent criticisms regarding the Prime Minister Paethongtarn’s live-streaming of durian sales, emphasizing the benefits of online trade.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Napintorn responded to the opposition’s suggestion to explore new markets by highlighting that over 70% of trade now occurs online, while offline sales account for only 30%. He described his own experience in Shanghai, where live-streaming the sale of Thai durian proved successful, increasing sales by 20% on the Heman platform.
Mr. Napintorn underscored that the Prime Minister’s live broadcast serves to inform the public about the seasonal availability of Thai fruits, aiming to encourage consumption rather than directly boosting sales. He urged critics to focus on more significant issues rather than trivial matters. Furthermore, Mr. Napintorn outlined ambitious export targets, aiming to export 1,200,000 tons of Thai durian in 2024, with a total export goal of 950,000 million tons, complemented by domestic consumption of approximately 320,000 million tons.
He noted that favorable weather and expanded planting areas have increased durian production by 300,000 million tons this year. Highlighting the importance of exports, Mr. Napintorn detailed efforts to streamline Thai durian entry into the Chinese market, addressing past customs inspection challenges. By coordinating with various stakeholders, including the Federation of Thai Industries, the Ministry of Commerce has successfully reduced inspection times at Chinese border checkpoints, ensuring quicker market access.
Additionally, Mr. Narin mentioned efforts to penetrate the Indian market, acknowledging the challenges posed by India’s protective policies towards its farmers. The Ministry of Commerce has coordinated the initial export of longans, promoting them as premium Thai products. Further coordination is underway to introduce other Thai fruits to the Indian market.