During her visit to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reaffirmed Thailand’s goal of becoming the “Kitchen of the World.” This vision highlights Thailand’s rich culinary heritage as a key element of its soft power strategy.
The “One Village, One Thai Food Chef” Project
The Thai government has introduced the “One Village, One Thai Food Chef” initiative. This project aims to provide cooking skills to participants from over 75,000 villages nationwide, helping them become professional chefs and create new sources of income.
Speaking at the Amazing Thai Taste to the World event on February 24, Chef Chumpol Jangprai, a prominent ambassador for Thai cuisine, emphasized that the project goes beyond culinary training. It is a strategic move to elevate Thailand’s food industry and ensure its sustainable growth.
Project Growth and Global Impact
According to official statistics, the initiative trained 1,300 individuals last year. This number is expected to rise to 17,000 in 2025, with further growth projected to reach 26,786 in 2026 and 30,000 in 2027.
Chef Chumpol also noted that the project will provide more opportunities for Thai chefs to work internationally. It aims to use Thai cuisine as a cultural ambassador to increase global awareness of Thailand.
The Global Reach of Thai Cuisine
The Department of Foreign Trade reports that by the end of 2023, there were 17,478 Thai restaurants worldwide, with 6,850 of them located in the United States. This growing presence reflects the international appeal of Thai cuisine and the country’s soft power strategy.
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