Mr. Thira said he had met with Hideaki Kobayashi, Japanese ambassador to Thailand, today on a possibility of sending Japanese experts to inspect Thai poultry processing factories after a total of 54 renovated and new factories were functioning here.

Presently, Thailand exports about 150,000 tonnes of processed chicken worth approximately Bt20 billion to Japan annually.

Japan, Thailand's biggest poultry buyer, in early 2004 imposed a ban on Thai poultry imports following an outbreak of the deadly bird flu disease in this country. It, however, authorised the resumption of imports of cooked Thai chicken after an inspection of Thai chicken processors by Japanese teams of experts a few months later.

Other major issues discussed, according to Mr. Thira, were the possibility of increasing investment between the two countries and the possibility that Thailand would export more agricultural and marine products, including rubber, frozen shrimp, tapioca products, rice and orchids, which enable this country to earn about Bt130 billion annually from Japan.

Source: MCOT News