Commerce Minister hits back at rumors impacting tapioca exports

 

BANGKOK, 31 August 2017 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has hit back at claims interest in Thai tapioca in international markets has waned, saying major buyers like China have continued to demand the product. 

Minister of Commerce Abhiradee Tantraporn has responded to rumors China has shut down several of its docks due to pollution caused by tapioca shipments by saying that such claims are often made during the peak of the tapioca export season, likely in an attempt to dampen sentiment towards Thailand’s products. 

The Department of Foreign Trade has dispatched a trade representative delegation to China to reassure the country’s major buyers that the rumors are false and that all harbors handling the plant are equipped with necessary machinery to mitigate its environmental impacts. They are also to point out that demand for Thai tapioca by the Chinese government has actually grown in recent years as it is a key ingredient in common goods such as alcohol. 

The government is currently aiding tapioca growers by directly connecting them with livestock farms that use the crop to as animal feed. The direct links reduce transport and middlemen costs for growers while also adding value to tapioca. In the long term, the administration is looking to improve tapioca growing as well as encourage consumption.

 

-- nnt 2017-08-31

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

likely in an attempt to dampen sentiment towards Thailand’s products. 

Like the ones of rotten rice sales, rubber sales, faked goods, and unlicensed medicine under supervision of a military government? 

Edited August 31, 20178 yr by Lupatria

It's not Tapiocca. It's Cassava. That's what farmers grow. After Cassava has been processed into little balls it is put into cellophane packets which can be found on supermarket shelves. Thats when it gets named tapiocca. Yep. I know. Useless information......