Thailand can and should be a strategic hub for Peru in Asia. This is the conviction of Mario Salazar, chairman of the board of Agrícola Chavín, after participating in the recent THAIFEX-Anuga Asia trade fair in Bangkok. "This country of 70 million inhabitants, young, dynamic, and with a clear export vocation, is consolidating its position as the agri-food distribution center of Southeast Asia," he notes.

And he adds: "What if we think bigger? What if we look at Thailand not just as a buyer, but as a regional platform for our products? This is what the Añaños family's AJE Group thought 20 years ago."

For Salazar, the reasons for considering Thailand as a regional hub are clear:

1. Prime location: Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand is efficiently connected to the 10 ASEAN countries (700 million consumers). These include giants like China and India, as well as developed markets like Japan, Korea, and Australia.

2. Advanced logistics infrastructure: It boasts the Laem Chabang Port (the largest in the country), the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, with significant cargo capacity, and finally, the ambitious Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project, which boosts innovation and regional connectivity.

3. Powerful network of trade agreements: Thailand is a party to treaties such as RCEP (the world's largest free trade zone), and bilateral FTAs ​​with countries like India, Australia, and China, as well as ASEAN Trade in Good Agreement, which eliminates barriers within the bloc.

4. Pro-investment climate: Board of Investment (BOI) incentives, support for joint ventures and re-exports, and finally a favorable environment for digital and physical trade.

What can Peru do?

In this scenario, Mario Salazar proposes establishing a Peruvian commercial office or operations center in Thailand, with a regional HUB vision.

This office could coordinate distribution throughout Asia, support certifications, logistics, and labeling; act as a cross-border e-commerce platform, and serve as a meeting point for trade missions and co-creation with local companies.

From their perspective, Peruvian products with the potential to benefit from this hub are primarily fresh and frozen fruits, superfoods, specialty coffee and fine cocoa, Andean snacks, organic products, functional beverages, and pisco.

In addition, joint production or manufacturing could be explored in Thailand, adapting products to Asian tastes and re-exporting them with zero tariffs to RCEP countries.
“Asia isn't the future, it's the present. And if we want Peru to be on the map of the major agri-food players of the 21st century, we have to move our pieces with strategic vision. Thailand can be Peru's gateway to Asia. It's in our hands to take that step,” he concluded.