On January 1, 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) entered into force. Today marks the second anniversary of the entry into force of the RCEP, which has injected strong impetus into regional economic and trade cooperation over the past two years.
Perfumed coconut is a special coconut variety known for its rich sweetness and is cultivated in only a few regions of Thailand. At present, under the promotion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), perfume coconuts produced in Thailand are increasingly entering the Chinese market.
Reporter Yang Tanli: I am now in a perfume coconut garden in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand, you can see that the coconut palm of the perfume coconut is much shorter than the ordinary coconut tree, and it is more characteristic that the coconut water of the coconut is sweeter and more favored by consumers in the market.
Ratchaburi is one of the main producers of perfume coconut in Thailand, and the reporter learned in a local coconut processing factory that about 80% of the perfume coconuts here will be sold to China.
Biepong Tasana Gong, Production Manager of Perfume Coconut Processing Factory: There is a large demand for perfume coconuts in Ratthaburi in the Chinese market, and our factory has also introduced production machines made in China, which has improved the production efficiency of the factory and can export more perfume coconuts to China.
The coconut water of Perfume Coconut has a strong fragrance, high sugar content, and delicate and fluffy coconut meat. According to a local perfume coconut processing factory, orders from China have increased year by year in recent years.
Pitawa Sheiwang, Vice President of Perfume Coconut Processing Factory: About 50% of China's coconuts come from Thailand, and Thailand** is actively promoting the export of agricultural products.
China is Thailand's largest export market for agricultural products. In 2022, the total amount of agricultural products between China and Thailand** was 13.1 billion US dollars. In the first quarter of 2023, Thailand's agricultural exports to China reached 22500 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 256%。These dazzling data benefit from the full docking of Thai products with the needs of the Chinese market, and are also inseparable from RCEP and other policy guarantees. For Thai agri-food merchants, a major benefit for RCEP entry into force is the reduction in import costs and export opportunities due to lower tariffs. According to the agreement, more than 90% of the goods** in the region will gradually achieve zero tariffs, including Thai coconut and coconut water raw materials. This has made it easier for Thai products to be exported and has also brought more employment opportunities to local fruit farmers.
Silapa Pai Doneng, a Thai fruit farmer: The import and export of coconuts** has boosted Thailand's economic development, and fruit farmers have jobs to do, which has solved our livelihood problems.
*: CCTV news client.