OTOP
is the brand of products under the 'One Tambon, One Product' project, a
nationwide sustainable development initiative launched by the Thai government
in 2001. It aims to promote the unique products made by local communities, by
utilising their indigenous skills and craftsmanship combined with available
natural resources and raw materials.
OTOP
drew its inspiration from Japan's successful One Village One Product (OVOP)
programme, and encourages village communities to improve local product quality
and marketing. It selects one superior product from each tambon to receive
formal branding as a "starred OTOP product", and provides a local and
international stage for the promotion of these products.
The
Thai government provides communities with valuable assistance with regard to
product development and opportunities to market products in a global arena.
This project is also an important way to preserve traditional skills and
ancient Thai heritage, which have been passed down through generations. OTOP
offers an extensive range of exquisite handicrafts, quality agricultural
products, food, beverages, gems, jewelry, textile, silk garments, pottery,
fashion accessories, household items. and so much more. Major OTOP trade fairs
are held twice annually in Bangkok.
Different
regions are noted for specific types of products. Highlights of products from
different regions in Thailand include:
NORTHERN
THAILAND
Superb
handicrafts, particularly carved wood, silverware, specialty paper products,
ceramics, bamboo baskets, cotton fabrics and silver jewellery from hill-tribe
minorities.
NORTHEASTERN
THAILAND OR I-SAN
It
is a tradition in the Northeast for villagers to make two sets of clothes -
everyday work clothes and high quality silk items created with outstanding
skill for special occasions like weddings and festivals. These latter items are
being selected as OTOP products. Silk and cotton fabrics, especially tie-dyed
mudmee designs. The most famous are Lai Khid and Phrae Wa silks. Other items
include reed mats, baskets woven from water hyacinth and triangular pillows.
CENTRAL
THAILAND
Traditional
handicrafts of bamboo and bai lan, great earthen pots, Dan Kwian and Koh Kred
pottery and terra cotta items.
EASTERN
THAILAND
Famed
for its fruits, fresh and processed, as well as bamboo and rattan baskets, reed
mats and mudmee fabrics.
SOUTHERN
THAILAND
Batik
fabrics, woven products from lipao, bulrush and panan pandanus, mother-of-pearl
inlays and carved wood products.
For
more information, readers may wish to obtain a copy of “OTOP, Stories from Thai
Local Wisdom” by Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion. A limited
number of copies of this book are available at the Office of Tourism Authority
of Thailand, located at the Royal Thai Embassy, Singapore.
