The Prime Minister opened the OTOP Midyear 2026 event, urging that these products should not be seen merely as community souvenirs but as Made in Thailand items carrying value and pride for Thais in the eyes of the world. He asked people not to worry, as the Thai economy and the country's status on the global stage are improving steadily.
On 22 June 2026 at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center in Muang Thong Thani, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, together with his wife Mrs. Thananon Charnvirakul, presided over the opening ceremony of OTOP Midyear 2026. The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Ministers and other ministers.
The Prime Minister said that every time there is an OTOP event, he observes the joy and pride of Thai people coming together to witness the development of Thai products crafted with creativity and skill that never cease to evolve. Coming at this time is especially gratifying because the government has been traveling abroad frequently, discussing innovations and future industrial technologies. Returning to experience local products rooted in community ways of life and Thai culture reminds us not to forget our roots and revitalizes our connection to tangible, familiar things.
He continued that recently, the phrase “Wear Thai fabrics with joy,” a royal initiative by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, has become popular among Thais, sparking a Thai fabric fashion trend. The government supports production promotion so citizens can fully benefit from this royal initiative. He emphasized that promoting Thai fabrics is not just about marketing textiles but about promoting Thainess and strengthening the Thailand brand. This charm cannot be replaced by technology. The world is flooded with mass-produced goods, but people increasingly crave items that bear human touch, cultural marks, uniqueness, and stories. He invited all Thais to share valuable stories through every product and convey pride in our identity through Thai craftsmanship in the OTOP project. He urged seeing OTOP not merely as a livelihood promotion or income supplement but as a way to cultivate new Thai entrepreneurs from every subdistrict, district, and province—a uniqueness no one can copy. The government supports Thai entrepreneurs to use new innovations to expand market reach. He believes OTOP products are no longer just community souvenirs or items bought out of sympathy but represent cultural narratives and creativity of Thais in the eyes of the world. The term Made in Thailand signifies not only origin but also value, quality, and pride for all Thais.
“A person like me normally can stay anywhere for no more than two hours, but these past two days I have stayed five to six hours, only leaving because I had appointments. Last weekend, I walked for four hours and hadn’t even seen half the restaurants. While using the Thai Chua Thai Plus program, I still haven’t visited a fraction of the shops prepared to serve the public. Importantly, using the Thai Chua Thai Plus benefits fully allows us to feel the advantage of purchasing goods at reduced prices. There is no need to worry about other matters. The status of the Thai economy is improving, and Thailand’s standing on the world stage is rising. It is the government’s duty to make things better so that people in the country can live comfortably.”