Tesco Lotus has joined with the Commerce Ministry to promote fresh produce exports worth more than Bt15 billion next year.
The company will also purchase 120,000 tonnes of produce for domestic sales.
Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said yesterday that the increase in Thai produce procured by the global giant modern trader would help local farmers earn higher incomes.
The ministry will strengthen cooperation with the private sector to boost sales of farm and One Tambon One Product (Otop) goods in international markets and direct to consumers, he said.
Pravit Sukhum, Tesco Lotus' head of government affairs, said the company would increase its orders for farm and Otop goods each year.
After 18 years of operation in Thailand, next year will see Tesco placing its biggest order for farm and Otop goods - 120,000 tonnes, up 45 per cent from 80,000 tonnes this year.
Tesco will also increase its exports of vegetables, fruits and other products for sale in stores of Tesco Group in the United Kingdom, Central Europe and Asia.
Demand for Thai farm products has been rising at Tesco's stores worldwide, so the company will continue to increase its orders for these and other Thai products, Pravit said.
Tesco expects that sales in many markets, particularly China and Asia, will surge compared with other European countries. Tesco has more than 6,000 branches worldwide, including more than 3,000 in the UK.
Srirat Rastapana, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said the company last year imported US$417 million (Bt12.8 billion) of Thai products for its outlets.
