Forging bilateral growth
Born in Panyu, Guangzhou, with ancestral roots in Shanwei, Gao Yixin has been in Thailand for over 30 years. Many years ago, he ventured into the fruit trade in Thailand and found success in Chanthaburi.
With the continuous development of Sino-Thai trade cooperation in various sectors over the past few decades, various trade associations have emerged. It was in this context that Gao Yixin established the Sino-Thai Agricultural Products Import-Export Association.
"Our association serves as a hub for industry information dissemination, market insights, and policy support, enabling a deeper understanding of market dynamics. This facilitates more tailored production and trade strategies aligned with market demands," said the president.
It has now enrolled over 1,000 members, including durian producers, traders, sorting factories, logistics companies, processing plants, and farmers, covering various facets across the durian industry chain.
He emphasized that the association not only brings commercial opportunities and benefits to its members but also creates more opportunities and collaboration space for agricultural trade cooperation between China and Thailand. "Through our efforts, we want to make Sino-Thai agricultural product trade proceed more efficiently and systematically, making a positive contribution to the economic development and deepening friendship between the two nations," Gao added.
Elevating durian trade
Somsak Loetsumrong, the manager of Thailand Gaofeng Food Group and a member of the Sino-Thai Agricultural Products Import-Export Association, emphasized in an interview with GDToday the importance of maintaining product quality for the sustained development of durians.
"While Thailand boasts abundant durian resources, production volumes do not define our advantage," he pointed out. "In recent years, other Southeast Asian countries have joined the competition for durian exports. If we fail to ensure durian quality, safeguarding our market share becomes challenging. So we are implementing new preservation technologies and deploying automated equipment to enhance our operational efficiency. At the same time, we engage in active communication with farmers, aiming for more standardized production across different farms."
In collaboration with the local government, the association has introduced unified production standards for various farms to ensure the consistent export quality of Chanthaburi durians.
This year, the Sino-Thai Agricultural Products Import-Export Association has further reduced durian transportation time and logistics costs with the help of the China-Laos Railway, which is crucial for preserving durian freshness and quality. "Looking ahead, as the construction of the China-Thailand railway progresses, the future for the export of Chanthaburi durians will become even brighter," said Gao.
He also expressed anticipation for more Chinese delegations to visit durian production sites in Thailand to further understand and experience Thailand's high-quality durians. He believes that through mutual efforts and cooperation, Sino-Thai durian trade will continue to achieve greater development and success, making significant contributions to the economic cooperation and friendship between China and Thailand.
Reporter: He Yixin, Eastbrook
Editor: James, Will, Olivia
