Thailand Teams Up With India on Herbal Products Trade

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthammapun led 20 Thai entrepreneurs to the Bharat Nutraverse Expo 2026 in New Delhi on September 9, 2026 local time. The delegation opened a Thailand Pavilion to present Thai capabilities in herbs, health foods, functional foods, and nutraceuticals, connecting with Indian business partners and promoting co-creation cooperation. The effort aims to leverage raw materials, knowledge, and innovation from both countries for global market expansion.

Suphajee stated that while India excels in herbal plant resources, biodiversity, and Ayurvedic knowledge, Thailand possesses strong biodiversity, agricultural base, food industry expertise, and food innovation capabilities. Both nations can complement each other by combining their strengths to create new products and services, add value, and strengthen shared value chains.

"Thailand and India have different strengths but can complement each other. Linking the strengths of both nations will help create new products and services, add value, and expand opportunities to the global market," Suthammapun said.

She emphasized the goal is genuine bilateral cooperation, with Indian businesses also able to partner with Thai counterparts to develop products together for third-country markets worldwide. As a concrete outcome, Suthammapun witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between India's Shellac & Forest Products Export Promotion Council (SHEFEXIL) and the Thai Herbal Industry Association (THIA). The agreement, signed by SHEFEXIL Managing Director Dr. Debjani Roy and Thai industrial leaders, aims to strengthen herbal and nutraceutical industry links through knowledge exchange, innovation, trade, and investment cooperation.