The Thailand International Restaurant and Bar (R&B) 2010 fair will be held on June 23, 24 and 25, 2010, from 10 am to 6 pm at Impact Exhibition Center, Hall 2. Participating organizations include the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), the National Food Institute, the Small Business Credit Guarantee Corporation (SBCG) under the Ministry of Finance, and Chaitip Co Ltd, manufacturers of Panomrung packed rice.
“With a market value of 200 billion baht per year, the food and beverage service industry is an essential part of the effort to restore Thailand’s economy,” said Yuthasak Supasorn, OSMEP Director-General.
“R&B 2010 is an important collaboration between public and private organisations to help businesses and improve the economy, as well as an addition to the state assistance for the industry and operators affected by the political protests. The OSMEP booth at the fair will provide advice and solutions for SMEs, and visitors can register here to receive our help in one of these three categories.
“The first category includes traders impacted by the recent unrest in Rajprasong and surrounding areas. They are encouraged to register for our e-marketplace service to extend their wholesale or retail possibilities through our new website, www.rajprasong.com.
“Secondly, we are collaborating with several banks to ease the interest payments of restaurants and service businesses. And thirdly, we’re providing necessary training and assistance for new business operators.”
Chanchai Lertmahandpueti, Vice President of SBCG’s Office of the Special Project, said that SBCG had established a support centre especially to help SMEs. At the R&B 2010 SBCG it will provide affected business operators with credit guarantees for loans at a fee of only 0.75 per cent in the first year.
Chattaporn YoeLao, Managing Director of CAD Promotion (1997) Co Ltd, publishers of the Thailand Restaurant News magazine, noted that the service sector, particularly the hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) business, constituted an enormous supply chain accounting for more than 30 per cent of the entire service industry. Support for the HORECA business is therefore essential as it links with farm produce, OTOP products, SMEs, employment and market expansion.
“As a publication that presents all aspects of this business, Thailand Restaurant News has collected extensive data” said Ms. Chattaporn. “As we enter our tenth year, we are joining forces with Impact Exhibition Management in organising R&B 2010.”
The fair will provide a complete range of products and services as well as information and technologies necessary for restaurants, hotels, catering business, bars and cafes to meet the requirements of business operators and potential newcomers. It also aims to upgrade the ability of staff in the industry and encourage exchanges of information, expertise and business networking to hasten business recovery following the political crisis.
“This fair will be packed with useful activities and assistance for food and beverage businesses including financial support, training, national and international competitions and promotions with the aim of stimulating a sustainable economic rebound,” said Chattaporn.
The Thailand International Restaurant and Bar (R&B) 2010 fair will be in three zones: Cuisine for change, World of Wine & Spirit, and Coffee (Tea & Bakery) Culture. Some of the activities include seminars, senior and junior chef competitions, the Thailand Wine Butler Championship, the Thailand Bartender Open 2010, and the Asian Barista Competition for HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana Trophy.
The Department of Skill Development will be offering vocational training and short-term courses for work preparation and skill improvement, as well as skill tests to open up more employment and promotion opportunities in domestic and international organisations.
One of the activities at R&B 2010 will be ‘Ideas Make Money’ organised by Panomrung packed rice company, Chaitip Co Ltd together with Bangkok Chili Limited Partnership (Nguan Soon), distributor of spices under the Hand No.1 brand. This activity will provide cooking classes for six dishes that are very popular but also known for their complicated cooking methods. Participants will also have the chance to win a food-vending trolley on each day of the fair.
The Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce and its restaurant members are participating by setting up an ‘Italian Pavilion’ to showcase Italian food products and giving cooking demonstrations of appetising specialties like Parma ham, pasta and canap?s. Italian-style coffee, ice cream and wine will also be available for tasting.
Registration for attendance at R&B 2010 can be made via www.thairestaurantandbar.com or contact 0-2833-5126.