Annual OTOP fair to get underway at the weekend

Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Minister of Interior, said that the government aims to link the grassroots economy to macroeconomics and one way of doing that is through Otop, the value of which has incrementally increased since 2003, when the products had a sales value of approximately Bt50 billion.
As more products are sold, jobs and careers are created and income generated for those at the community level, thus reducing disparity and meeting the goals of economic development in the 20-year national strategic plan. The Ministry of Interior has been assigned to promote the development and trade of Otop products through the Department of Community Development as well as increasing Otop exhibitions in various parts of the country.
One of the government-sponsored events is the Otop City event, which has been held 13 times and generated more than Bt13 million in revenue over the years. This year’s event, scheduled from December 15 to 23 December at Challenger Halsl 1-3 Impact, Muang Thong Thani, is expected to see sales of at least Bt1.4 billion, 3,500 manufacturers and entrepreneurs taking part and to draw at least 500,000 people.

Pravit Sukhum, President-Office of Corporate Communications at Thai Beverage, said Otop product sales of Bt237.255 billion equivalent to results of public companies listed on the stock exchange but better since all of the income went directly back to t30 million people nationwide.
Otop sales have grown by 10-20 per cent year on year under the country's economic growth rate of 3 per cent, which compared with the performance of the private sector under this conditions, is considered very good.