Meet on medium-term export strategy
The Commerce Ministry's International Trade Promotion Department will meet with exporters tomorrow to devise plans for driving shipments in the next three to five years, as well as setting up next year's export target.
Srirat Rastapana, director-general of the department, said it would pay more heed to the private sector’s point of view when drafting its medium-term export-promotion plans. The strategy is meant to ensure that the Kingdom’s export-growth goals are sustainable.
“The department may adjust some roles to facilitate exports and help drive up export figures for particular industries. Besides promoting trade growth, the department will play a greater role in encouraging Thai traders to invest overseas in accordance with seamless markets worldwide,” Srirat said.
Representatives from the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Federation of Thai Industries as well as exporters from various industrial sectors are scheduled to meet with the department tomorrow at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn in Bangkok.
Primarily, the private sector has proposed promoting exports to emerging markets such as the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Highlighted products include foods, particularly halal. Exporters have also asked the government to follow up on trade disputes.
Srirat said the department’s 63 trade offices should be able to increase efficiency for promoting trade and investment overseas.
The meeting will also gather information on trade and economic data of each export market as well as from private enterprises in setting the export target for next year.
Srirat said exports should increase next year, despite high concern over the global economy, particularly the impact of the euro-zone financial crunch.
The department will promote export under 463 projects next year, up from 411 this year.
Of these, 96 projects will be international trade promotions, 22 trade shows in Asean, and the rest in-store promotions with department stores and foreign importers.
