DFT+ Leads 80 Thai SMEs to Hong Kong for Global Expansion

MGR Online•Economy•4d ago

Reader Briefing

The Department of Foreign Trade and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion led 80 Thai SMEs to Hong Kong from August 13 to 17, 2026, under the DFT+ project.

•The Department of Foreign Trade and OSME led 80 Thai SMEs in food, beverage, processed agriculture, consumer goods, and lifestyle products to Hong Kong.
•The mission took place from August 13 to 17, 2026, focusing on the Local to Global (DFT+) initiative.
•Business matching activities resulted in over 101 million baht in immediate trades, with an expected one-year value of over 350 million baht.

Overview

•The Department of Foreign Trade and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSME) brought 80 Thai SMEs to Hong Kong between August 13 and 17, 2026.
•The delegation visited the HKTDC Hong Kong Food Pro 2026 and the Thailand Pavilion of the National Innovation Agency (NIA).
•Thai SMEs engaged in business matching with over 60 buyers, importers, distributors, and partners from Hong Kong and China.
•Trades conducted during the event totaled over 101 million baht, with projected trades exceeding 350 million baht within one year.
•Participants attended special lectures on the Hong Kong market and the Greater Bay Area by the Director of the Thai Trade Office in Hong Kong and representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
•The group visited retail networks including HotMaxx, Yuan Ji Lin, HUI KANG Supermarket Hong Kong, and PARKnSHOP.
•The delegation studied Green & Smart Living at the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to learn about sustainable business operations.
•Arada Fuengthong stated that the DFT+ project aims to provide entrepreneurs with real market experience to increase competitiveness in international markets.

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Key Quotes

Arada Fuengthong

"The cooperation between the Department of Foreign Trade and OSME under the DFT+ project aims for entrepreneurs to experience the real market from seeing the market, meeting partners, to learning real trade."

ความร่วมมือระหว่างกรมการค้าต่างประเทศและ สสว. ภายใต้โครงการ DFT+ มุ่งให้ผู้ประกอบการได้สัมผัสตลาดจริงตั้งแต่ เห็นตลาด - พบคู่ค้า - เรียนรู้การค้าจริง

Key Entities

Organization

Department of Foreign Trade(กรมการค้าต่างประเทศ)

An agency under the Ministry of Commerce that organized the DFT+ project for Thai SMEs.

Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSME)(สำนักงานส่งเสริมวิสาหกิจขนาดกลางและขนาดย่อม (สสว.))

A government organization partnering with the Department of Foreign Trade to help SMEs expand to global markets.

National Innovation Agency (NIA)(สำนักงานนวัตกรรมแห่งชาติ (NIA))

The agency responsible for the Thailand Pavilion at the HKTDC Hong Kong Food Pro 2026.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)

An organization that provided insights on the Hong Kong market and Greater Bay Area business opportunities.

HotMaxx

A retail network in Hong Kong visited by the Thai SMEs for study.

Yuan Ji Lin

A retail network in Hong Kong visited by the Thai SMEs for study.

HUI KANG Supermarket Hong Kong

A retail network in Hong Kong visited by the Thai SMEs for study.

PARKnSHOPℹ️

A retail network in Hong Kong visited by the Thai SMEs for study.

Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)

The entity where Thai SMEs studied Green & Smart Living and sustainable business operations.

Ministry of Commerce(กระทรวงพาณิชย์)ℹ️

The parent ministry of the Department of Foreign Trade.

Place

Hong Kong(ฮ่องกง)ℹ️

The destination for the DFT+ project where Thai SMEs explored the market and met business partners.

Greater Bay Areaℹ️

A region discussed during lectures regarding business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs.

Policy

DFT+

A project designed to build networks and potential for Thai SMEs to compete in foreign markets (Local to Global).

Person

Arada Fuengthong(นางอารดา เฟื่องทอง)

The Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade.

Chaninthorn Rimcharoen(นางชนินทร หริ่มเจริญ)

The Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Trade and head of the delegation to Hong Kong.