Thailand's deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek on Monday said that the Thai government is aiming to top ASEAN in herb exports.

The Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Commerce have all joined forces to promote Thailand as the biggest herbal exporter of Southeast Asia, targeting overall sales estimated at 360 billion baht (11.5 million U.S. dollars) next year, said Rachada.

The deputy government spokesperson said her government will emphasize in the development of herbal products, especially used as ingredients in the production of food, beverages, cosmetics, food supplements and medicines.

Herbs used as ingredients will be good for Thailand, as there are not many competitors in herbal markets, Rachada explained.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Thai herbal exports were rising especially in China, the United States and Vietnam, she said.

Rachada said the three ministries expect the value of annual herbal consumption to increase from 180 billion baht to 360 billion baht by 2021, which she claimed would make Thailand become South-East Asia's biggest exporter of herbal products.

She said Thailand's most popular herbal food products include turmeric, Plai (Zingiber montanum), Thai black ginger and Bua Bok (Centella asiatica) and green chiretta.