Trade Negotiations Department Partners to Elevate “Sweet Tamarind City” Products to FTA Markets

The Department of Trade Negotiations under the Ministry of Commerce has joined forces with key partners, including the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion and public  health authorities, to strengthen product standards in Phetchabun, widely known as Thailand’s “Sweet Tamarind City.” The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of local agricultural and processed products, enabling farmers and entrepreneurs to access Free Trade Agreement (FTA) markets. Authorities emphasized that certified standards serve as a crucial gateway to global trade and consumer confidence.

A seminar and consultation forum was organized for farmers, community enterprises, and business operators dealing in tamarind, ginger, avocados, fresh vegetables, and herbal products. Participants received knowledge on international trade, FTA utilization, tariff regulations, and product certification standards such as food and drug safety, halal, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and Good Hygiene Practices (GHPs). The program also highlighted the importance of upstream certification, including organic standards and Geographical Indication (GI) registration, to support long-term business development.

In addition, entrepreneurs were introduced to financial and technical support mechanisms from various government agencies. These include funding sources for farmers and capacity-building programs such as the Business Development Service (BDS), which supports product certification, laboratory testing, packaging design, trade exhibitions, and business matching. Officials expressed confidence that such initiatives would help transform capable local producers into exporters, enabling them to leverage FTAs, strengthen their competitiveness, and integrate into global supply chains. Following the seminar, a number of participants immediately applied to join the BDS program.