Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has held talks with major Thai rice traders from the United States on the rice quality standards and plans to increase the volume of the premium export rice.

The commerce minister and executive officials of the Ministry of Commerce discussed market obstacles to the planned increase in the rice export volume.

Mr Jurin said some 500,000 tons of Thai rice is exported to the United States per a year. Notably, the volume of Home Mali rice exported to the U.S. market has increased 4.92% over the last five years.

Trade fairs have been held by rice importers and leading U.S. supermarkets to promote Hom Mali rice from Thailand.

The Thai rice has been publicized by culinary institutes and Thai restaurants and has had access to consumer groups in the United States. The publicity for the Thai rice has been carried out on social media.

’’The Thai government has addressed all levels of traders, particularly those who have imported rice and food from Thailand for a long time. The Ministry of Commerce remains prepared to work closely with every rice trader and hopes to welcome them. We will focus on the marketing and proactive publicity to promote the consumption of premium quality rice from Thailand,’’ Mr Jurin said.