Thailand striving to boost banana exports to Japan amid high demand

Caretaker Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha was pleased that Thai fresh bananas and their processed products are popular in Japan, he said. He added that Thailand can use privileges under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement to expand banana exports. The agreement exempts Thailand from tariff on 8,000 tonnes of bananas. Anucha said the nutrient-packed fruit is popular in Japan because not only is it a tasty, healthy snack, but can also be used as an ingredient in many desserts, citing a Department of International Trade Promotion report. Though the fruit can be cultivated in Japan, the yields are often low due to the weather, he said, adding that the country imports more than 1 million tonnes of bananas annually. He said Thailand would be able to export more bananas to Japan, adding that the government has prepared a ...