Anutin’ emphasizes the strengths of the Thai food industry. Although we are not a military equipment superpower, we are a food superpower. He suggests building on the strengths of the economy from being a soft power to becoming the world’s kitchen.
Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, presided over the opening of the academic seminar on Food, Faith, and Family Development on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, organized by the Department of Human Ecology, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, with Ms. Sainamphueng Thongsai, Chairwoman of the Department of Human Ecology, giving a report.
Then, Mr. Anutin gave a speech on the topic of food, faith, and family development, saying that as part of the government, we have a concept of food faith and family development. If people eat well, live well, and have enough to eat every meal, the food we consume has sufficient nutritional value, the development of the brain, both physically
and mentally, will make the family institution strong. All 3 topics, food, faith, and family development, are related. Thailand is a rice bowl, showing abundance. There has never been an era of food shortages. This is the strength that has been laid down as a historical foundation. Thai food is a kind of soft power. When we develop the country, the companies that develop and generate income for the country are all types of food production companies. When I was the Deputy Minister of Commerce, I negotiated trade with foreign countries. I was threatened that some Thai products would be cut off. But in the end, I withdrew the matter after being told that it was okay. I could bring them back to consume in the country or there were other countries that wanted to buy products from Thailand. This reflects that Thailand has high bargaining power in the food industry. However, we cannot be a military superpower, but we can be a food and health superpower. No matter if AI is invented, we must eat food. The government w
ill not let people go hungry. We have homeless people. During COVID, I was a musician and the Ministry of Public Health went to inspect the area and brought food to them. Even though I don’t have a job, I never lack food because there are always foundations that bring food. However, people must rely on the four necessities of life. As a government, we must give them human dignity and take care of them. We make sure that we can take care of the people in terms of food and eating, no matter what disasters there are, because we cannot fight disasters. The supplies must arrive, the relief bags must arrive, as a form of compensation for those affected by natural disasters.
Mr. Anutin also saw that the Thai food industry must be developed as the world’s kitchen to cover and extend to the elderly. The life expectancy of Thais has increased because of the 30-baht universal healthcare system, which people from political parties responsible for the government must push and promote to take care of the people in all asp
ects to gain confidence in taking care of the people’s health, making foreigners who want to live in Thailand happy. Thailand is ready. In the future, it will continuously develop tourist cities and will make Thailand have a business that is a medical hub.
Today, we emphasize that the government prioritizes food, society, the quality of life of our people, unity, and social strength. Conflict and violence have been arguing for over 20 years, but nothing has improved. Today, we are facing each other from the political sector onwards. Don’t say that politics has no permanent friends or enemies. How can we hate each other as MPs from different parties? We have never had any problems or obstructed our interests. We have never done anything to cause damage or hinder our lives. Because we are in that party or this party, we have to hate each other. If anyone thinks like this, they have to be reborn. We are here to forget the past. We have to understand differences in thinking. But personal or national matters are
not related. Don’t cause division. When politics are strong, Thai politics are considered strong. Since the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, which is not the NCPO era, which is continuous from the elected government that lasted 4 years. And this government should last 4 years. Even though Mr. Sathit Thaveesin is not the prime minister, the House of Representatives is still there. The government can still administer continuously. The policies that political parties promised to the people can be continued continuously. Which is considered strong stability. When politics are strong, the economy will be strong if the people help to make society strong. Reduce conflict, reduce hatred, focus on making a living, believe that Thailand can move forward because of its potential.
Source: Thai News Agency