They are Pla Kulao Khem Tak Bai (salted fish) from Narathiwat province and beef from Phon Yang Kham in Sakon Nakhon province.
Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee said giving the products a GI rating would boost their sales as they are certified as good quality.
“Another 16 products are waiting to get the GI certification. The Commerce Ministry’s Intellectual Property Department is inspecting those products and is expected to approve more new products for its GI list soon,” he said.
To date, 71 Thai products from 51 provinces requesting GI certification have been approved. The department is expected to award GI certification to another 10 Thai products so all 77 provinces have at least one GI product next year.
The targeted provinces are Bangkok, Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Satun, Samut Sakhon, Sa Kaew, Sing Buri, Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet.
Suvit said the producers of GI items might benefit from the products having an enhanced reputation because of where they come from.
“GI products are not only worth protecting because of their connection to quality, tradition and reputation, they also make a very big contribution to sustainable rural development,” Suvit said. He added that products with a GI certification offered more opportunity for increased sales, as consumers were willing to pay more for premium products.
Pla Kulao Khem Tak Bai is known as the king of salted fish. It has a good smell and is not too salty. It is fished from the Gulf of Thailand near the Tak Bai River and the Sungai Kolok River.
The fish is priced between Bt1,200 and Bt1,500 per kilogram.
Phon Yang Kham beef is kept in cold storage and has proper fat. It is priced between Bt1,100 and Bt1,200 per kilogram.