Food, Agriculture, Beverages

The EABC Food, Agriculture and Beverage (FAB) Working Group comprises of European businesses in Thailand that operate in the areas of food, agriculture, and beverage industries. The resumption of EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations will accelerate an improvement in business climate and enhancement of trade and investment opportunities between both economic zones. In 2022, agri-food trade is accounted for 8%-9% of the total value of trade between European Union (EU) and Thailand, amounted USD41 billion. 

Objectives of the Food, Agriculture, and Beverages Working Group

The FAB Working Group (WG)’ core objectives are to pursue effective policy advocacy and partner with government and non-government stakeholders aimed at enhancements of trade and investment opportunities, level playing field as well as ease of doing business. The WG aim to be a thought leader and initiator of breakthrough and value-added solutions to matters in relation to Food, Beverages and Agriculture, a creator of consensus in the European business community and wider.   

Some key policies that the WG focus on are as following:  

• Enhance ease of doing business and regulatory reform (Regulatory Guillotine)  
• Support EU-Thailand Free Trade negotiations to minimize tax burdens and market access  
• Pursue fair and transparent taxation policy – excise tax and earmarked tax  
• Grow e-commerce for food and beverages including beverage alcohol products  
• Promote ESG among the member companies supporting the government’s national agenda 
• Drive a balanced policy that enables ‘win-win’ solutions for public heath goal and economic goals 
• Enhance food security and agri-trade according to the international market requirements 
• Improve agricultural productivity, quality and food safety along the productions of agricultural value chains through facilitation of access to innovation and technology 
• Support agriculture sustainability trends, which include a focus on transparency, circular economies, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Information about Working Group Chair

Gafar Enriquez Lutian (Junie) is a distinguished legal professional and academic. He was born in 1963 in Jolo Sulu, Philippines. He is married to lawyer Gina Vitorio and blessed with three sons.

Junie has an impressive educational background. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management Engineering minor in Chemical Engineering from De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, and a Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College of Laws, Philippines, and was ranked No. 6 in the Philippines Bar Exams of 1992. He also has Master of Laws equivalent certificate from the Academy for American and International Law, Centre for American and International Law, Plano, Texas. He was awarded his Doctor of Jurisprudence in December 2023.

His career spans various roles, including Associate General Counsel, Procter & Gamble Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd in Singapore and Deputy Administrator for Operations & Legal Counsel at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. He was a Professor of Law and Bar Reviewer in various law schools. He has been a dedicated educator, lecturing on commercial and civil law at several prestigious institutions and co-founding the Jurists Bar Review Center to improve bar exam pass rates.

Junie commenced his tenure with Danone Specialized Nutrition (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in 2016, where he served as the India SEA General Secretary & General Counsel, stationed in Bangkok until 2021. Subsequently, he transitioned to Singapore, where he continued his role under Danone Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd until the third quarter of 2024. Presently, Junie has returned to Thailand, resuming his position as SEA General Secretary & General Counsel at Danone Specialized Nutrition (Thailand) Co., Ltd.