Thailand Launches Affordable Curry Rice Initiative With Vendors
Thailand's Internal Trade Department is launching talks with restaurant operators and market vendors to make curry rice meals more affordable through subsidies or direct farmer-to-restaurant sales. The initiative involves 5,000 Blue Flag bu
The Thai Internal Trade Department is convening talks with Blue Flag restaurant operators and fresh market associations to find solutions for affordable curry rice meals. Internal Trade Secretary-General Wityakorn Manirat announced that the department will meet with food vendors and market representatives on July 15 to hear their concerns and gather proposals for managing curry rice prices.
The discussions will focus on identifying specific challenges facing curry rice vendors and determining how the Commerce Ministry can assist, whether through subsidizing cooking gas and electricity costs or by connecting fresh ingredients directly from farmers to restaurants to eliminate middleman markups. The department is currently compiling feedback to develop suitable programs.
The department currently operates approximately 5,000 Blue Flag budget restaurants nationwide and maintains a network of about 200 fresh markets in Bangkok, surrounding areas, and major cities. Officials are considering whether to expand the Blue Flag restaurant program further. Regarding consumer product price reductions following recent oil price cuts, the department noted it already has price ceiling controls for regulated goods, with many items currently trading below set maximums. For other products under review, the department acknowledged prices may not drop immediately with oil reductions but expects major retailers to lower prices soon, having previously requested they review merchandising fees to reduce supplier costs.
