Rise in auto parts exports seen in next 5 years

TAPMA spokesman Thavorn Chalassathien said yesterday that this year, car production was expected at 2.1 million to 2.2 million units, with employment of 540,000 people. Of that number, about 450,000 are workers in the auto-parts industry and the rest in the automotive industry. Export value of auto parts this year is expected to be between Bt500 billion and Bt600 billion, up about 30 per cent from last year.
He said there would also be an increase in demand for workers in the auto-parts industry to serve the higher demand for vehicles, at an estimated 2.5 million to 3 million units in 2017. Therefore, Thailand needs at least 120,000 more workers.
Thavorn said that as a result of the yen’s appreciation against other currencies, companies in Japan had been looking at investing outside their country. Among other countries, Thailand and Indonesia are of most interest to Japanese investors.
He suggested that the Thai government speed up improvements to the country’s competitiveness in terms of human resources, technology, machinery and raw materials to attract new foreign investments. In addition, Thai auto-parts suppliers should improve their production processes and labour skills.
“In the future, Japanese enterprises, if they decide to invest in the Kingdom, will bring in advanced technologies.”