DITP Launches THAI SELECT Festival 2026 in New York to Strengthen U.S. Market Opportunities for Thailand's Food Industry

NEW YORK, USA - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2026 – Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), under the Ministry of Commerce, will present the THAI SELECT Festival 2026 on 21 July 2026 at Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, New York City. The festival is designed to strengthen the presence of authentic Thai cuisine in the United States, expand international recognition of the THAI SELECT certification, and create new commercial opportunities for Thai restaurants, food producers, and exporters.

DITP Launches THAI SELECT Festival 2026 in New York to Strengthen U.S. Market Opportunities for Thailand's Food Industry

As one of Thailand's largest export markets for food products, the United States plays a strategic role in supporting the continued growth of Thailand's food industry. Through the THAI SELECT Festival 2026, DITP aims to connect American consumers with authentic Thai cuisine while reinforcing the competitiveness of Thai restaurants and promoting greater demand for premium Thai ingredients and food products.

The Ministry of Commerce is deeply honoured that Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi has graciously accepted the invitation to preside over the festival's opening ceremony. Her participation underscores Thailand's continued commitment to promoting authentic Thai cuisine and the THAI SELECT certification on the international stage.

Held under the theme "Thai SELECT Playground – Play with Thai Flavors," the festival offers an immersive culinary experience where visitors can explore Thailand's rich food culture through authentic flavours, regional specialties, cooking demonstrations, cultural showcases, and interactive activities. Inspired by the concept of a playground, the event encourages guests to discover the diversity, creativity, and craftsmanship that define Thai cuisine.

A major highlight of the festival will be signature dishes prepared by 15 THAI SELECT-certified restaurants from across New York, showcasing both traditional favourites and contemporary interpretations of authentic Thai cuisine. Visitors will also have opportunities to engage with Thai culinary traditions through hands-on cultural experiences and interactive exhibitions celebrating Thailand's culinary heritage.

Internationally acclaimed Thai actors Mile Phakphum Romsaithong and Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat will make special appearances throughout the festival, participating in exclusive fan activities while helping introduce authentic Thai cuisine to broader international audiences. Their participation reflects Thailand's integrated approach to promoting culture, entertainment, and gastronomy as complementary drivers of the country's global soft power and creative economy.

The festival forms part of DITP's broader strategy to strengthen the international competitiveness of Thailand's food industry by increasing global awareness of the THAI SELECT certification, encouraging wider adoption of Thai ingredients by restaurants overseas, and creating new opportunities for Thai food exporters. By strengthening the international profile of authentic Thai cuisine, DITP continues to support sustainable growth across Thailand's food value chain while reinforcing the country's long-standing position as one of the world's leading culinary destinations.

THAI SELECT is Thailand's official certification mark awarded by the Ministry of Commerce to restaurants and food products that meet recognized standards of authentic Thai taste, quality, and culinary excellence. The certification serves as a trusted guide for consumers worldwide seeking genuine Thai dining experiences while supporting Thai businesses in international markets.

As Thailand continues to expand the global presence of its food industry, THAI SELECT Festival 2026 demonstrates how culinary diplomacy can generate tangible economic value by strengthening international consumer confidence, supporting Thai entrepreneurs overseas, and creating new opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, and long-term business partnerships between Thailand and the United States.

Hashtag: #DITP

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BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2026 - Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced a strategic partnership with Thailand-based fintech and payment technology provider T2P to expand access to modern card issuing capabilities and accelerate digital payment innovation across Thailand.

Through the partnership, T2P will leverage Paymentology's next-generation issuer processing platform to deliver scalable, secure and flexible card programmes for fintechs, financial institutions, corporates and enterprises looking to launch innovative payment solutions.

The collaboration strengthens T2P's growing payments ecosystem, enabling businesses to bring new prepaid, corporate and digital wallet-linked card programmes to market more quickly while benefiting from Paymentology's real-time processing capabilities, global expertise and highly configurable platform.

Thailand has become one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing digital payments markets. According to the Bank of Thailand, online payments increased by 13.5% year-on-year in 2025, reflecting growing adoption of digital wallets, QR payments, embedded finance and cashless payment experiences. As businesses look to capitalise on this shift, they increasingly need trusted technology partners that can reduce complexity and accelerate innovation.

By combining Paymentology's cloud-native issuer processing platform with T2P's local market expertise, the partnership will help organisations develop payment solutions that meet evolving consumer and business expectations while supporting Thailand's continued digital transformation.

Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth APAC at Paymentology, said:"Thailand is one of the most exciting payments markets in Asia. As demand grows for embedded financial services and innovative card programmes, organisations need technology that allows them to launch quickly while remaining flexible enough to evolve with customer expectations.We're delighted to partner with T2P as they continue expanding their payment capabilities."

The partnership will initially support a broad range of use cases including:

• Prepaid card programmes
• Corporate and commercial payments
• Employee spend management
• Digital wallet-linked cards
• Embedded finance solutions
• Cross-border payment programmes supporting Thailand's thriving tourism sector

TaweechaiPureethip, Chief Executive Officer at T2P, said: "Our partnership with Paymentology is an important step in strengthening T2P's card and payment technology capabilities. Paymentology's modern issuer processing platform, real-time processing capabilities, flexibility and experience across markets give us confidence as we continue to develop reliable and scalable payment solutions for businesses in Thailand. Together, we aim to make it easier for organisations to bring practical, secure and flexible card-based payment programmes to market."

As payment services become increasingly embedded into everyday consumer journeys and business operations, the partnership positions both organisations to support the next generation of payment innovation while expanding access to more secure, reliable and practical payment tools for businesses and consumers across Thailand.

Hashtag: #Paymentology #T2P

https://www.paymentology.com/en/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **