Page 50 - FoodFocusThailand No.142_January 2018

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“The Bounty of Our Land Delivered to Your Table”

The Government of Chile chose Thailand as the first country to kick-start
“Foods from Chile: The Bounty of Our Land Delivered to Your Table,” a
campaign to promote the Latin American country’s enogastronomic offer in Asia and Latin America. The project
was firstly launched at Bangkok—before it continues to China, Colombia, and Brazil.

As explained by the recently-appointed Chilean Ambassador to and avocados were mixed in farm production with plants and cattle
Thailand Christian Rehren, the reason behind choosing The Land of brought by Spanish immigrants to Chile in the XVI century. That’s
Smiles as the first country in the world to launch this initiative is how we started producing grapes and wines, olives and oil, beef,
because Thailand is Chile’s most important partner in the region in apples, and cherries, to name a few,” explained Mr.Diego Osses, the
terms of trade, investment, and tourism. Commercial Counsellor, Head of Economic and Trade Office, Trade
“This is an exciting time for Thailand and Chile’s bilateral relations Commission of Chile in Thailand, Embassy of Chile.
because the diversity and contrast of both nations are beginning to According to the Chilean Trade Promotion Bureau (ProChile), the
consolidate virtuous cycles of exchange and cooperation,” he longest north-south trending country in the world currently also leads
explained. “During 2016 Chilean food exports exceeded USD 100 worldwide exports of ten products: grapes, cherries, blueberries,
million in seafood, livestock, and wine, while Thailand consolidated plums, fresh and frozen salmon fillets, mussels, whole frozen trout,
sales of trucks and cars for USD 400 million. This Foods from Chile smoked sea urchins, and toasted malt. “In the last 30 years, Chile
campaign—for the first time in Thailand today—is part of this process has incorporated state-of-the-art technologies for agricultural
which nourishes the noblest of our spirits,” said the Chilean management, producing new varieties, high yields, and superb quality,
Ambassador to Thailand Christian Rehren. giving due consideration to social and environmental sustainability.
At the event, there were a business matching for Thai and Chilean Today, Chile has comparative and competitive advantages that allow
companies, as well as cooking demonstrations with Chilean staple it to produce food with quality that stands out before our competitors
ingredients prepared in Thai and Chilean style. Celebrity Thai chef such as New Zealand, Australia, and California,” he added.
Surakit “Ping” Khemkaew offered a menu using Chilean ingredients
prepared in Thai-style. In turn, Chilean ambassador chef Pilar Update on the Thailand-Chile FTA
Rodriguez prepared traditional Chilean dishes with ingredients from Chile and Thailand signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which entry
her home country. Both menus were paired by Chilean ambassador into force took place in November 2015. This FTA became the fifth
sommelier Marcelo Pino with award-winning Chilean wines including Chile signed with an ASEAN country, after Singapore, Brunei,
a Brut sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, as Malaysia, and Vietnam.
well as Chile’s national flagship spirit made from grapes, Pisco. “Thailand is our main trade partner in Southeast Asia, with bilateral
“Chile has inherited the best from the New and the Old World. trade of nearly USD 1 billion in 2016, and Chile is the third largest
Many popular agricultural products such as corn, potatoes, tomatoes, trading partner for Thailand in South America, after Brazil and
Argentina, as well as a potential partner for investment,” said
Mr.Osses, “Chile is a net importer of industrial products from Thailand,
while Thailand is a net importer of raw materials based on natural
resources.”
There were no exceptions in the FTA signed between Chile and
Thailand, and every product included will be duty-free after a period
of 8 years. Among the Chilean products that were granted immediate
tariff-free access are avocados, nuts, raisins, condensed milk, beef,
poultry, pork, paper and cardboard, cathodes and copper concentrates;
and for Thailand, oil, natural gas, cars, vans, and canned pineapple,
among others. In January 2018, a total of around 250 products will
become completely duty-free for both countries.
“Chile is currently negotiating an FTA with Indonesia and is close
to starting negotiations with the Philippines as well, stating the
importance it has placed on the economic performance of Southeast
Asian countries,” explained the Commercial Counsellor.

48 FOOD FOCUS THAILAND JAN 2018