The Ministry of Commerce visited Nestlé's headquarters in Switzerland to discuss cooperation on intellectual property, attract investment, and research food innovations to position Thailand as a global future food hub.
Mr. Wuttikrai Leewiraphan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, along with Mrs. Oramon Subtaveetham, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, and the delegation held a meeting with Nestlé, led by Mr. Rémy Ejel, Chief Executive Officer for Asia, Oceania, and Africa, at Nestlé Global Headquarters and Research Center in Vevey, Switzerland. They exchanged ideas on cooperation in food innovation research, technology, and intellectual property to enhance Thailand's high-value food and agricultural industries, aiming to become a strategic intellectual property partner and support Thailand as a future food security hub.
Mr. Wuttikrai revealed that Nestlé is one of Thailand's key strategic trade partners, with continuous employment, trade, and investment in the country for over 133 years. Especially notable is their use of Thai agricultural products such as coffee and milk to produce processed goods, using Thailand as a production base for export to support growth in the regional food and beverage sector. Thailand's strengths in agricultural raw materials, production quality, and biodiversity offer opportunities for both parties to develop cooperation in food innovation, research and development, and advance into a high-value food industry in the future.
On this occasion, both sides exchanged views on cooperation in food innovation, research and development, and knowledge and technology linkage. Nestlé expressed interest in expanding investment and collaboration in innovation in Thailand, recognizing Thailand's potential as a production base and key food supply chain hub in the region, especially in agriculture and diverse raw materials that can connect to global supply chains in the future. They also discussed promoting cooperation to develop the capacity of Thai farmers and entrepreneurs through intellectual property management knowledge exchange, alongside technology matching collaboration. The Ministry of Commerce will help link Nestlé's research needs with leading Thai research institutes and universities.
Together, they aim to apply global food science to Thailand's local raw materials and diverse resources to develop high-value food innovations that meet consumer needs regionally and in global supply chains. They also plan to add value to Thai agricultural raw materials and other economic crops, enhancing them sustainably to international standards.
Nestlé is a major global food and beverage manufacturer headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. It operates business and distribution networks in over 180 countries worldwide, with more than 300 manufacturing plants and research and development centers globally, including Thailand, which is a key production base. Products made in Thailand include beverages, bottled water, dairy and infant nutrition products, sauces, and seasonings. Nestlé has also filed over 3,000 patent, design, and trademark applications in Thailand to support domestic and regional markets.
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