Until June 15: Thai OTOP Expo offers world class community products at bargain prices

12 Jun 2025

Until June 15: Thai OTOP Expo offers world class community products at bargain prices

Bangkok — More than 2,000 small and medium sized enterprises selling the best of Thai community-based cultural and culinary products are exhibiting at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition and Convention Center, the biggest such turnout at Thailand’s bi-annual “One Tambon (district) One Product” Expo. Opened on 9 June by the Prime Minister, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the OTOP Midyear expo is on until 15 June 2025.

Tourists in Bangkok should not miss this opportunity to pick up the best of Thai F&B delights, apparel, jewellery, accessories, household items, souvenirs and much, much more, literally at factory prices. Those looking for import-export business opportunities will find online sales and finance facilities. Mercifully, not a single global brand is anywhere in sight.

Accessibility to the show has also been improved by free transport to the Impact Exhibition Centre by a newly opened extension of the Pink Line mass transit system that links it to downtown Bangkok. Now undergoing trial runs, it significantly reduces the transport hassle of commuting to and from the Centre, especially in this monsoon season.

The theme this year is “OTOP, Modern, Sustainable Thai Economy”. The total 60,000 sq metres of space occupied in the three halls is the equivalent of roughly five football fields.

Launched in 2001 by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, father of Ms. Paethongtarn, the OTOP project is designed to allow communities and villages all across Thailand’s 77 provinces to tap into local wisdom and heritage in producing what they are best at. The Thai government provides extensive support to help the entrepreneurs improve their designs, packaging, manufacturing efficiency and access to domestic and international markets.

The project preserves local heritage, creates jobs, helps distribute income and promotes Thai Soft Power.

This year, the Community Development Department has a strong presence by its Online Marketing Channel Development Cooperation Unit, consisting of 8 units, namely Good Goods under the Central Social Enterprise of the Central Group, Thailand Post Distribution, TikTok (Thailand), Shopee (Thailand), Better Be Marketplace (NocNoc), Next Gen Shop (NexGen e-commerce), CP All (7-11), and PTT PCL (Thai Det Project). They are stimulating sales through online platforms using famous influencers to promote and live broadcast throughout the event.

Another special feature of OTOP MIDYEAR 2025 is the exhibition of Thai fabrics inspired by the ideas and creativity of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya who is spearheading a new range of fashion for people of all ages, drawing upon local wisdoms nationwide.

To promote inclusive societies, the Muslim-majority Southern Border provinces have a special area allocation. Individual provinces of South Thailand also represented elsewhere in the show.

Strangely, the Travel & Tourism industry has no presence, even though the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as well as the private sector associations all claim to be gung-ho about boosting visitor expenditure and supporting local communities. None have issued any PR or communications to promote the Expo.

The local expatriate community is also untapped. Nearly all the signage is in Thai, even the names of the provinces of the exhibitors. Some exhibitors of special products have special panels featuring the history of their products, which is very interesting but also in Thai.

Also missing is any reference to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, even though the project meets nearly all 17 of them, in one way or another, ranging from alleviating poverty and promoting gender equality to decent work and innovation and education.

My wife and I spent nearly the entire day on June 10 walking the show and supporting a diverse range of exhibitors. We are both delighted to play our role in helping grassroots entrepreneurs, creating jobs and promoting peaceful, inclusive societies in this chaotic-cum-creative kingdom. I am also giving it the promotional and marketing support it needs and deserves.

NOT TO BE MISSED!!!