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DEP CHIANG MAI & PREMIUM OTOP
THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPORT PROMOTION & ONE TAMBOL ONE PRODUCT

Not long ago, during the heyday of the Thai economic boom, with the priority given by the former government to stimulating the rural economy through promoting small and medium scale start-up enterprises all over the country, visitors were amazed by the broad range of local products from all the regions on sale. Provincial product fairs flourished with an apparently ready market existing for locally made earthenware, skincare products, handwoven textiles, and many other local specialities.

This was under the umbrella of the widely promoted and snappily named One Tambol One Product (OTOP) scheme (the tambols are the local districts into which each province is divided). This roaring success seemed too good to be true as farming villages soon started to earn dollars through the export trade. At one point, the Wikipedia site devoted to it reported the figure of 36,000 OTOP groups nationwide that were accessing global markets.

Eventually, though, it proved to be a house of cards since much of this exponential growth depended totally, as did many other government schemes of the day, on tax-payers' money continually being pumped into ill-thought out, unsustainable projects.

Since that government's overthrow, investigations into the financial irregularities of many such reckless initiatives have been underway. There has also been a thorough shake-out among OTOP producers. The project's decline has been almost as drastic as its exponential growth was dramatic.

However, according to Khun Jiraporn Tulyanond, the Regional Director of the Department Export Promotion (DEP), this will prove all to the good. Crisis offers opportunity. From now on, customers from abroad will be able to do business with the most competent manufacturers and suppliers, stengthened by their survival of the bursting of the bubble.

So, buyers, now is the time for you to visit DEP's Northern Export Promotion Center here in town. Conveniently for visitors, it is centrally located, in the old walled city on Singharat Road between Wat Phra Singh and the northern stretch of the moat (Central Map D2).

Here you can check out the list of more than 300 quality producers who are still active, as well as those reliable dealers who are officially registered with DEP. If you have any particular products in mind, you can consult with their knowledgeable staff to get contact details.

With the goods of traditional cottage industries, what you see is not always what you get. They have mastered their crafts over decades if not centuries, but they are not necessarily familiar with contemporary international marketing skills, or the related presentation and packaging techniques, not to mention the complexities of export procedures. Home decor items on display

This is where the DEP can lend its support in helping you locate reliable trading partners from their network of proven trustworthy producers and suppliers in town. Many among them have long been participating in DEP organised trade fairs, whether locally, nationally, or internationally, thus guaranteeing their experience in international trading.

Despite recent budget constraints, in common with other government agencies, DEP is still actively involved in organising trade fairs at various levels. For an inclusive list of these, along with information on other details of their role, check out their website at www.dep.go.th. This might be especially useful for newcomers to international trading.

Even if you have no involvement in the import/export business,you may still find it of interest to stop by at the in-house branch of the OTOP chain on the premises. It is a two-storey building in their compound. On the first floor is a showroom to display premium SME products of all kinds, ranging from furniture and home decor items to canned foods. Staff are on hand to answer any queries and to provide contact details, without any charge, for all the producers and dealers.

Upstairs on the second floor is the OTOP Shop, managed by a trading company, that sells the whole range of goods on display whether you want to buy retail, wholesale, or for export.