PM's Export Awards back bid to boost competitiveness

The department aims to encourage Thai businesses, especially small and medium-size enterprises, to prepare for the new challenges they will face when the Asean Economic Community (AEC) is fully effective in 2015.
More than 50 projects have been created, including the allocation of in-depth information about trade and investments to local businesses, the provision of training and seminar sessions, participation in regional and global fairs and exhibitions, and the setting up of trade representatives to look for investment opportunities abroad.
The department has also invited local exporters and service businesses to showcase their capabilities and vie for a Prime Minister’s Export Award.
This is one of the most prestigious awards granted by the government to exporters for moral support and to encourage them to develop their capabilities and competencies.

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The awards are also aimed at raising competitiveness of Thai products and sustaining them in the global market to facilitate growth in |the Kingdom’s export and service sectors.
Nantawan Sakultanak, director-general of the DEP, said the government hoped the awards would be a major mechanism for raising |the confidence of consumers, both locally and abroad, to put their trust in products and services from Thailand.
The awards will be a tool for enhancing public relations and marketing communication activities, which will allow local businesses to export more products and services in terms of both quantity and value. The awards are also expected to inspire other businesses to develop their capabilities so they can compete sustainably in international markets.
“Under the AEC, Asean will become one single market for both trade and manufacturing,” Nan-tawan said.
“It will be a good opportunity for local businesses in the trading and manufacturing sectors to step forward into international markets and competition.
“To cash in on the huge population in Asean, which is as much as 600 million and with a combined gross domestic product of US$1.5 trillion [Bt46 trillion], the department has a policy to encourage |trade expansion in Asean member markets.”
In addition, one of the most important missions to be fulfilled by the DEP is to support and develop value creation in products and services. The Prime Minister’s Export Awards will be another project that helps encourage local entrepreneurs to grow their own businesses and create new market opportunities.
It will be a major symbol of respect and thanks to all award-winning organisations as key engines of the sustainable growth of the Thai economy.
Last year, 32 Prime Minister’s Export Awards were presented to 31 companies. About 270 applicants are expected for this year’s competition, up 10 per cent from last year.