Thai Food Village Debuts at Saudi Feast Food Festival 2025 Under Thai Commerce Minister Suphajee’s Lead
Thailand highlighted as Guest of Honour at Riyadh culinary expo — Thai Food Village showcases cuisine and strengthens Middle East food export push
Thai Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun led her country’s delegation at the 2025 Saudi Feast Food Festival in Riyadh, where Thailand was honoured as “Guest of Honour” and launched a dedicated “Thai Food Village.” The festival — held from November 27 to December 6 at King Saud University — featured a specially allocated Zone showcasing Thai agricultural produce, processed goods, condiments and iconic dishes like Tom Yum Goong, Pad Thai and Mango Sticky Rice, drawing large crowds among Saudi visitors.
The Thai Food Village represented a strategic effort by Thailand to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s growing demand for imported food, positioning Thai products for increased penetration into the Middle Eastern market.
Suphajee, accompanied by senior trade officials and Thai diplomats including the Thai ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Thai entrepreneurs present at the event to discuss trade-policy reform, ease of export licensing and logistical solutions to support future growth.
More than a dozen Thai restaurants and food stalls participated in the Festival’s international section, delivering live cooking demonstrations and tastings that highlighted Thailand’s diverse culinary heritage.
The presence of the Thai zone was a newly introduced feature for 2025, reflecting growing bilateral trade ambition and cultural-culinary diplomacy.
Saudi organisers said the overall Festival includes over 100 restaurants and serves more than 300 dishes from global cuisines.
The addition of the Thai Food Village was received as one of the most popular attractions, signalling consumer appetite in Saudi Arabia for Thai flavours and signalling strong potential for Thai food exporters to expand in the Gulf.
For Thailand, the Food Village underlines a broader government drive — led by the Ministry of Commerce — to boost exports of food, agriculture and processed goods under evolving global demand.
Suphajee’s active personal role in the pavilion reflects Bangkok’s commitment to building long-term trade links with the Middle East, using soft-power tools of cuisine and cultural exchange to support economic growth and diversification.
The Thai Food Village represented a strategic effort by Thailand to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s growing demand for imported food, positioning Thai products for increased penetration into the Middle Eastern market.
Suphajee, accompanied by senior trade officials and Thai diplomats including the Thai ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Thai entrepreneurs present at the event to discuss trade-policy reform, ease of export licensing and logistical solutions to support future growth.
More than a dozen Thai restaurants and food stalls participated in the Festival’s international section, delivering live cooking demonstrations and tastings that highlighted Thailand’s diverse culinary heritage.
The presence of the Thai zone was a newly introduced feature for 2025, reflecting growing bilateral trade ambition and cultural-culinary diplomacy.
Saudi organisers said the overall Festival includes over 100 restaurants and serves more than 300 dishes from global cuisines.
The addition of the Thai Food Village was received as one of the most popular attractions, signalling consumer appetite in Saudi Arabia for Thai flavours and signalling strong potential for Thai food exporters to expand in the Gulf.
For Thailand, the Food Village underlines a broader government drive — led by the Ministry of Commerce — to boost exports of food, agriculture and processed goods under evolving global demand.
Suphajee’s active personal role in the pavilion reflects Bangkok’s commitment to building long-term trade links with the Middle East, using soft-power tools of cuisine and cultural exchange to support economic growth and diversification.
