From 5 – 9 August 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Doha organized a series of activities aimed at enhancing collaboration between Thailand and Qatar in the fields of Food Innovation and Halal Sciences. H.E. Mr. Sira Swangsilpa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the State of Qatar, led a delegation of senior executives from the Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar on an official visit to Thailand. The delegation included Ms. Wasan Al-Baker, Director of Food Safety Department, Mr. Khalid Al-Sulaiti, Head of Port Health and Food Control and Ms. Najat Al-Abdulmalik, Head of Food Safety Laboratories.
During their visit, the delegation engaged in fruitful discussions with their Thai counterparts, including representatives from the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS), Thailand Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Laem Chabang Port Customs Office, Kasetsart University, and the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University. These discussions centered on exploring avenues for enhanced cooperation and fostering close networking between the two nations.
Overall, the outcomes of these engagements were successful, with both sides exchanging valuable insights on Thailand’s food safety protocols and export control measures, as well as Qatar’s food safety protocols for imported food products. The initiative successfully fostered close networking and collaboration between the relevant authorities of both countries, enabling the exchange of knowledge and best practices. The delegation also learned about food safety related measures of Thailand, namely the inspection of food products in ACFS-certified laboratory, inspection of agriculture and food products at port of entries at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Laem Chabang Port, and the detection of forbidden (Haram) components at the Halal Forensic Sciences Laboratory.
This initiative marks the first joint project between the Royal Thai Embassy and the Food Safety Department, presenting a significant opportunity to expand sustainable cooperation that align with national development agendas of both countries, including IGNITE THAILAND and Qatar National Vision 2030.