Chantra Purnariksha, director-general of the department, said 157 fruit importers from 36 countries met with fruit exporters yesterday to seal sales contracts. The importers were from Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Spain, the UK, United Arab Emirates and the US.

Tropical fruit such as durian, longan, mangosteen, pineapple, mango, rambutan, lychee, coconut, banana, and tamarinds can generate high foreign exchange revenue for Thailand. The department also plans to promote pomelo, particularly in Asia.

She added that frozen fruit and vegetable exports are expected to grow to US$571.5 million (Bt22.3 billion) this year up 18 per cent from 2005. Last year, the country exported value $300 million worth of frozen fruit, up by 22 per cent, while canned fruit increased 11 per cent to $868 million, and canned and processed vegetables increased 9 per cent to $228 million.

The department forecasts that fruit and vegetable exports will increase, particularly to new markets such as Australia and India, with which Thailand has free trade agreements and the US, with which it is negotiating an FTA.

The US earlier agreed to allow Thai mango, pineapple, rambutan, lychee, mangosteen and longan to enter the market.

 However, these products have to undergo radiation treatment to eliminate insects.

She said fruit exports to other major markets, particularly Japan and China, are also growing.

The Nation