Giving a Major Boost to OTOP Products

(15/12/2011)

Government agencies, state enterprises, private organizations, and members of the general public have been urged to buy community products, known as “One Tambon, One Product,” or OTOP products. The campaign for buying OTOP products is meant to help stimulate local economies. It was approved by the Cabinet, during its meeting on December 13, following a proposal by the Ministry of Interior. The Cabinet assigned the Community Development Department as the core agency to launch the campaign and join forces with relevant agencies in working out a public relations plan to encourage all target groups to buy OTOP goods. The Department was also told to support the distribution of OTOP products to various organizations. The Ministry of Interior reported that Thailand’s floods in 2011 had a great impact on OTOP producers. A survey conducted by the Community Development Department shows that the flooding affected 1,248 groups of OTOP entrepreneurs in 62 provinces, causing almost 243 million baht in damage. The impact was also felt by consumers, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises. As a consequence, OTOP entrepreneurs have faced a lack of opportunities to generate more income. The Ministry pointed out that the campaign for buying OTOP products should be stepped up urgently, so that OTOP producers would recover quickly and be able to become self-reliant again. The effort would also strengthen the country’s grassroots economy and ease the hardships of flood-hit people. As a way of promoting the campaign, people should be urged to buy OTOP products as gifts on various occasions, such as New Year celebrations. Government agencies should also use OTOP products in their meetings or seminars. The OTOP program began in 2001 as a self-help mechanism for each and every community, with emphasis on rural areas, to draw upon local knowledge and ingenuity. It is based on three major principles. The first principle, called “Local Yet Global,” seeks to develop local products to international standards on a continual basis in line with local culture. The second principle, known as “Self-Reliance and Creativity,” seeks to develop local products, taking into consideration the revival of local culture and traditions to bring out the uniqueness of each village. The third principle, called “Human Resource Development,” involves a move to build up members of the community who are knowledgeable and capable and have a broad vision. In order to stimulate the manufacture of local products using home-grown expertise and skills, the Government provides villagers with technical assistance and advice to enable them to produce their goods efficiently and at high standards. As a key incentive, the Government assists in the marketing of these goods, in cooperation with the private business sector.