Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Suphajee Suthumpun led 20 Thai entrepreneurs to the Bharat Nutraverse Expo 2026 in New Delhi, where she also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SHEFEXIL and THIA. This is a major step toward deeper bilateral cooperation in herbs and health products.

The partnership plays to each country's strengths. India is renowned for its rich biological resources, Ayurveda heritage, research capabilities, and large-scale manufacturing — earning its reputation as the "Pharmacy of the World." Thailand, meanwhile, brings strong biodiversity, a solid agricultural and food industry base, and expertise in food innovation and wellness. Together, these strengths could help Thailand break free from the low-value raw material trap.

This new strategy is set to drive economic growth across three levels:
• Upstream—Elevating farmers' incomes and crop prices.
• Midstream—Enabling SMEs to access technology and meet international production standards.
• Downstream—Increasing the export value of natural extracts and linking them with the health tourism sector.

Of course, challenges remain, particularly strict import regulations and intellectual property protection for Thailand's herbal industry.

Still, if this strategic partnership delivers, it could generate significant revenue for the country and position Thailand as a sustainable global hub for health innovation.