Phuket, Thailand -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2011 -- Phuket Town has been chosen as this year's host for the annual Thailand Five Southern Border Provinces Product Fair which runs from January 31st to February 6th.

Last year, the fair took place at the Marketing Organisation for Farmers in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok.

This year however, centre stage for the event will be Saphan Hin; Phuket Town’s largest municipal park.

The Thai Government first introduced the Fair to help boost the economy in southern Thailand and to raise awareness of farm and agricultural products amongst the public.

The event is jointly organised and hosted by the Ministry of Industry office in Songkla and Phuket City Municipality; this year it will feature over one hundred exhibition stalls.

The southern border provinces of Thailand are famous for several kinds of fruits, such as longon, rambutans, and durians. Other notable products at the Fair will include batik and processed seafood.

Also on show will be the Ministry of Industry's plans to develop the market for sheep and goat meat exports from Thailand to the Middle East.

Boonchoke Khanabkeaw, the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Industry office commented; "The event will showcase food products from the five southern border provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Pattani, Yala
and Narathiwat [in Thailand]."

“This year Phuket was chosen to host the annual event because it is a holiday destination for a large number of tourists, both foreign and domestic”, he added.

It has not yet been confirmed whether alcohol will be available at the event and the Ministry of Industry are currently liaising with Phuket Municipality to decide if all the meat served will be Halal.

The Thailand Five Southern Border Provinces Product Fair will be open daily from 10:00 to 21:00.

Rebecca Smith
Phuket Ocean Villas - http://www.phuketoceanvillas.com

For more Phuket news... http://blog.phuketoceanvillas.com