AOT diversifies into agricultural certification for export
Airports of Thailand (AOT) is planning to set up a new subsidiary to serve as a certification hub for agricultural products before they are exported, AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said.
“The new company will be 51 per cent owned by partners who are experts in the field and 49 per cent owned by AOT,” he said.
“The major partner will be Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association [TAFA], whose members export large quantities of products every year and are in need of certification services,” Nitinai said.
The subsidiary, AOT TAFA Operator (AOTTO) will focus on products such as vegetables, fruit, foods as well as drugs that require a temperature-controlled environment, added Nitinai.
“We aim to promote AOTTO to be a regional hub for agricultural certification by following the standards of the European Union, which will help facilitate entrepreneurs in Thailand and Asean in exporting their products to the EU without having to go through reinspection at the destination countries,” added Nitinai.
AOT had earlier established two subsidiaries in security and ground service businesses -- AOT Aviation Security and AOT Ground Aviation Services. The latter is also providing services relating to Covid-19 prevention and disinfection of business venues.
“We expect the revenue from non-aeronautical businesses in 2021 would help make up for lost revenue during the outbreak and in the future will contribute half of AOT's total revenue,” Nitinai said.
