BANGKOK: The Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA) Innovation and Socioeconomic Projects Steering Committee group is now on a week-long study and benchmarking tour to Thailand.
 
Led by its Chairman and Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the group also include two Members of Parliament, six Assemblymen and one Assemblywoman within the Division.
 
Also joining are civil servants from a few relevant departments.
 
Yesterday (Monday), they visited the Talaad Thai and Or Tor Kor, two prominent fresh farm products and local delicacies markets near the sprawling Bangkok city.
 
The Talaad Thai, with about 100,000 participating traders, is the biggest agriculture wholesale market in the ASEAN region.
 
Situated on a 101-hectare site in Pathun Thani, it handles some 12,000 ton of agricultural products daily with a daily sale of 290 million Baht (about RM37 million).
 
Today, the group visited the Betagro Science Centre in Lopburi Province, an ISO/ IEC 17075 certified food and animal testing labs.
 
To get closer insights into the Thai coconut industry, the group will visit the Thai Coconut Co., Ltd in Ratchaburi as well as a visit to its processing plant tomorrow.
 
This is a top-notch Thai company producing and exporting high quality coconut products locally and internationally.
 
Meanwhile for an agrotourism perspective and experience, the group will visit the Chokchai, Saithong, and the Punawapan Farms on Thursday.
 
The Chokchai Farm specialises in dairy farming, producing high quality fresh milk, cheese, yogurt, and others.
 
The Saithong Farm is into fruits farming, especially mangoes while the Punawapan Farm is the kingdom standard for high quality table grape production.
 
All these places are among the top agrotourism destinations in the kingdom. 
 
The tour will end on Friday with visits to the Phenix Mall and the Big C Ratchadamari Gourmet Market, whereby both are fully integrated food wholesale and lifestyle hubs located in the city centre.
 
Here, more than 2,400 companies from around the world make their presence, offering varieties and quality products at wholesome prices. -UKASnews