Thai Ambassador led a business delegation from Thailand to Africa’s Big 7 Trade Show
H.E. Mr. Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, the Thai Ambassador together with the Office of Commercial Affairs, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Team Thailand in Pretoria led a business delegation of 13 companies from Thailand to Africa’s Big 7 Trade Show at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg from 18-20 June 2023. This show is the largest food and beverage show in Africa attracting visitors, buyers and importers all over the continent. At the Thai Pavilion under the theme of “Thailand, Kitchen of the World”, Thai products such as rice, coconut milk and coconut water, pastes, sauces, and snacks were much appreciated.
The Thai Ambassador congratulated all the companies for a great success at the Show. It is also a great opportunity for the companies to explore and know better the South African market which is the biggest in the region in terms of purchasing power and South Africa is also the economic gateway to the rest of the continent.
At the Thai Pavilion, Team Thailand promoted Thai tourism amongst participants of the Show. The Tourism Authority of Thailand organised a food demonstration throughout the Show with 3 main dishes which were Pad Ka Prao Kai, Somtam and Miang Kham. Those were very much loved by everyone. The Thai Ambassador hopes that the number of South African tourists to Thailand will come back to the pre-Covid time which was around 100,000 per year soon.
After the Show, on 21 June 2023, the Royal Thai Embassy took the delegation around Johannesburg for a market survey. Also, the delegation was briefed by a professor from University of Pretoria on the South African market trends and opportunities which gave a clearer idea to the delegation about how to export Thai products to South Africa.
The Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand in Pretoria have a plan to organise similar projects in the future to help boost the trade value between Thailand and South Africa to 6 billion USD within 2025 as agreed by both countries.