Roadshows planned to boost key exports

 The products, which saw serious declines in margins during the first half of this year are electronic goods, rice, rubber, frozen and processed seafood, frozen and processed chicken, and sugar.

Shipments of the goods dropped by about 5, 3, 12, 9, 2 and 29.5 per cent, respectively.

Srirat Rastapana, director-general to the department, said the export decline was of great concern. In an attempt to boost shipments during the second half, he said the department would target key markets for the six exports with promotional activities, including roadshows.

For electronic goods, the department said it would set up roadshows to sign direct contracts with buyers in Russia, the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands and Mexico. Rubber exports, for example, would be promoted in Russia where there was a high market demand.

For rice exports, activities would also be organised in Russia. In addition, the department would launch a number of activities in potential markets like Taiwan and Australia, under the theme "Kitchen to the World".

The government will also urgently renegotiate its rice-export contracts with the US, Iraq, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire and Hong Kong.

To promote frozen and processed seafood, frozen and processed chicken, and sugar, the department will encourage exporters to join overseas trade |fairs to broaden opportunities of meeting local buyers. Thai busi-ness would, for example, be encouraged to join trade fairs like World Food Moscow and Food Australia 2013.

The department also intends to set up an in-store promotion for Thai foods with traders in overseas markets and conduct a weekly "Thailand Food Fair" in target markets. The Middle East, Russia, Chile, Egypt, Canada, Australia, Germany, Latvia, Hungary, France, and the US would be targeted for the fair.

Moreover, the department will launch activities to promote exports of products with high potential. These include electric appliances, garments and leather goods, jewellery, rubber products, and cosmetics.

The department plans to join a number of international trade fairs, including Intertextile Shanghai, CPM Collection in Russia, Daegu Fashion Fair in South Korea, Natural Product Expo Asia and Cosmoprof in Hong Kong.