Khao Yai eyes export fillip with EU wine application

Khao Yai eyes export fillip with EU wine application

Khao Yai’s GranMonte vineyard, which already sells some of its wine to Europe.

Thailand is preparing to submit geographical indication (GI) applications in Europe for wine made in Khao Yai to increase wine exports.

Vuttikrai Leewiraphan, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, said the department expects to file the applications for Khao Yai wine in the EU by September this year.

Four Khao Yai wineries registered for certification: GranMonte Vineyard and Winery, Village Farm, J&J Vineyard, and Alcidini.

Khao Yai wines approved for GI must adhere to established winemaking standards, including the use of Vitis vinifera grapes grown only in the Khao Yai region, with no imported wine or other fruit juice added.

A total of 300,000-500,000 bottles of Khao Yai wine are produced every year, valued at 300-400 million baht.

Only GranMonte exports its products, mainly to Sweden, France, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, with a value of about 10 million baht a year.

GI is a distinctive certificate used to identify a product as originating in the territory of a particular country, region or locality that has unique characteristics or quality, which can increase market value in developed countries.

Mr Vuttikrai said successful GI registration in foreign countries will help protect Thai products in overseas markets and make them more attractive to buyers.

There are six Thai products with GI registration in foreign countries: Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Doi Chaang coffee, Doi Tung coffee and Sangyod Muang Phatthalung rice in the EU; indigenous Isan silk yarn in Vietnam; and Lamphun brocade silk in India and Indonesia.

Thai GI products being considered in foreign markets include Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Pakpanang Tab Tim Siam pomelo and Phetchabun sweet tamarind in China; Doi Tung coffee in Cambodia and Japan; Phetchabun sweet tamarind and Lamphun golden dried longan in Vietnam; Doi Chaang coffee and Huay Mon pineapples in Japan; and Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice and Sangyod Muang Phatthalung rice in Indonesia.

He said GI certification in foreign countries will help expand Thai export markets as the department aims to raise exports of GI products by 5-10% this year from 1 billion baht in 2021.

Last year the government succeeded in registering GI products from all 77 provinces in the country after Ang Thong’s indigenous Ekkarat drum from Pa Mok district received certification from the Commerce Ministry.

There are 152 GI-registered products nationwide. GI products generated 36 billion baht worth of sales, including exports, last year.

The department aims to increase total sales of GI products to 39 billion baht this year, according to Mr Vuttikrai.

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