Germinated brown rice will be promoted more

BANGKOK, 21 November 2009 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce has set plans to promote germinated brown rice and processed rice more to meet with rapidly increasing demand for health products.

According to Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Thailand’s total export value of rice is more than 100 billion THB, but the processed rice export still remained low at only 5%. He said the government had therefore initiated the Creative Economy campaign to add values to Thai agrocultural exports expecially germinated brown rice.

Initial plans include branding, product diversifying, and expanding both domestic and foreign markets. Processed germinated brown rice will be developed under the brand of the Support Arts and Crafts International Center of Thailand. The deputy minister warned that germinated brown rice and and other rice products were protected by the intellectual property law, and people who illegally use the brand would be sued.