Thai agriculture ministry to join hands with Chinese e-commerce giant to tap into international online market

Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives on Thursday told the media that it is in discussions with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group to tap into its online market, aiming to woo 260 million customers from 190 countries and regions.

"The ministry is coordinating with Alibaba company for the development of small and medium-sized agricultural entrepreneurship, farmers' institutions and farmers to do business and sell Thai agricultural products to foreign markets on the Alibaba platform," said Alongkorn Ponlaboot, the Ministry's advisor.

Alongkorn said the ministry and Alibaba had earlier named the project "Thai Agriculture going Forward to the World Market with Alibaba.com."

He said there are hundreds of successful Thai entrepreneurs using the Alibaba platform as a channel to sell Thai products to the world market.

More than half of the Thai entrepreneurs launch their agricultural products onto the Alibaba platform. The agricultural products include cassava, rice, black garlic, pineapple, corn, as well as processed agricultural products from black garlic and sugar.

According to Stephen Kuo, Asia-Pacific head at Alibaba.com, more than 170,000 products from Thailand are already on the platform.

"And many more new Thai entrepreneurs also express interest to showcase their products on Alibaba platform," Stephen Kuo said.

"The ministry is coordinating with Alibaba company for the development of small and medium-sized agricultural entrepreneurship, farmers' institutions and farmers to do business and sell Thai agricultural products to foreign markets on the Alibaba platform," said Alongkorn Ponlaboot, the Ministry's advisor.

Alongkorn said the ministry and Alibaba had earlier named the project "Thai Agriculture going Forward to the World Market with Alibaba.com."

He said there are hundreds of successful Thai entrepreneurs using the Alibaba platform as a channel to sell Thai products to the world market.

More than half of the Thai entrepreneurs launch their agricultural products onto the Alibaba platform. The agricultural products include cassava, rice, black garlic, pineapple, corn, as well as processed agricultural products from black garlic and sugar.

According to Stephen Kuo, Asia-Pacific head at Alibaba.com, more than 170,000 products from Thailand are already on the platform.

"And many more new Thai entrepreneurs also express interest to showcase their products on Alibaba platform," Stephen Kuo said.

Thailand's top five product categories are food and beverage, agriculture, beauty and personal care, apparel, and home and garden.