A food and products fair was launched Saturday in Taipei as the final event in 'Thailand Week 2010, ' which was aimed at promoting better understanding of the Southeast Asian country. At the fair, some 20 booths in the plaza in front of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in downtown Taipei offered food, handicraft, and tourism and visa services. 'The purpose of this event is not only to promote Thailand tourism and food, but also to showcase every aspect of Thailand to the people of Taiwan and others who are currently in Taipei, ' said Arbhorn Manasvanich, Executive Director of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office (TTEO). The Thailand Food and Products Fair, which will run through Sunday, is the final event in a series of activities to celebrate 2010 Thailand Week from March 20-28. The activities included a Thai classical dance performance in Yilan and Taipei, the screening of a Thai movie 'Homrong, ' and an investment seminar at which several Taiwanese businesses from the alternative energy and pharmaceutical sectors expressed interest in investing in Thailand, Manasvanich said. At Saturday's food event, the chef who demonstrated how to make traditional Thai dishes such as green curry, spicy shrimp and lemongrass salad was none other than the representative herself. Manasvanich said she was quite impressed with the participation in and responses to the event, which is being held for the second year. The fair attracted Taiwanese visitors, Thai workers in Taiwan, and a group of Thai students who are in Taiwan on a two-month language program. Stressing the importance of friendship between the two countries, Manasvanich noted said they have similar cultures and lifestyles. 'Apart from the observance of Buddhism (in Taiwan) , the way of life is very similar in Thailand and Taiwan,' she said. 'In addition, some people always get Thailand and Taiwan mixed up. That tells you we're quite close to each other, ' she said jokingly. 'Add to that the fact that an estimated 300,000 Taiwanese tourists visit Thailand every year, we feel like neighbors although we don't share a border,' she said. The TTEO is planning to organize another fair in October and other cultural programs later this year, Manasvanich said, adding that 2011 Thailand Week will be the biggest TTEO event ever. The office is also trying to promote Thai rice -- which Manasvanich says makes Thai dishes taste better -- as there are now Thai restaurants almost everywhere in Taiwan. Another area that the office is looking at is collaboration between the Taiwanese and Thai film industries. Manasvanich said she doesn't know why most Thai movies being screened in Taiwan's theaters and on television movie channels are horror films. 'We have many kinds of movies, not just horror movies. It may be a good idea to organize a film festival in the future,' she said. 