During her visit to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reiterated Thailand’s goal to become the “Kitchen of the World.” The Prime Minister emphasized that Thai cuisine, rooted in the country’s rich natural resources, plays a vital role in Thailand’s soft power strategy.
The Thai government is actively promoting its culinary heritage with the “One Village, One Thai Food Chef” project. This initiative aims to teach cooking skills to participants from over 75,000 villages across Thailand. By training villagers to become professional chefs, the program helps them earn additional income and contribute to the country’s culinary industry.
The “One Village, One Thai Food Chef” Project
At the “Amazing Thai Taste to the World” event, held on February 24 and organized by Thailand’s Public Relations Department, Chef Chumpol Jangprai, a renowned ambassador of Thai cuisine, spoke about the project’s significance. He explained that the initiative goes beyond culinary training, aiming to promote sustainable development within Thailand’s food industry.
Statistics show that in 2024, 1,300 individuals participated in the training program. This number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with projections reaching 17,000 in 2025, 26,786 in 2026, and 30,000 in 2027.
Chef Chumpol also highlighted the potential for the project to create new opportunities for Thai chefs to work abroad. By using Thai cuisine as a cultural ambassador, the initiative aims to increase global recognition of Thailand’s rich culinary traditions.
Expanding Thai Cuisine Globally
According to the Department of Foreign Trade, by the end of 2023, there were 17,478 Thai restaurants worldwide, with 6,850 of them located in the United States. This growing presence underscores the increasing global popularity of Thai cuisine and its role in promoting Thailand’s soft power on the international stage.
Thailand’s focus on food as a cultural export continues to enhance the country’s global image and offers new economic opportunities for its citizens. With the “One Village, One Thai Food Chef” project, Thailand is positioning itself as a global leader in culinary diplomacy, combining tradition with innovation to reach new heights in the global food industry.
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