Exporters' woes to be presented to PM today
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The Commerce Ministry will today report the results of its workshop with 20 top exporters to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra so that the government can come up with concrete plans to boost exports soon.
Amparwon Pichalai, deputy director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said many problems were discussed at the workshop. The department is collating that information to present to the prime minister.
Yingluck herself will chair today’s meeting. Every problem expressed by exporters at the workshop will be addressed as well as possible solutions, Amparwon said.
In the first seven months, export value grew by only 0.60 per cent year on year to US$132.36 billion (Bt4.237 trillion).
Early this year, the government set the 2013 export-growth target at 7-7.5 per cent, to between $245 billion and $246 billion. However, many negative factors have affected exports, and growth has fallen far short of the government’s goal.
Exporters in every sector were invited to the ministry’s workshop. The department also sought consultations with Thai trade representatives and overseas honorary advisers to find solutions.
After the meeting with the prime minister today, the department will also meet with overseas Thai trade representatives in Bangkok on whether to revise the export target for this year. They will also propose last-ditch attempts to promote exports in the final quarter.
Under the department’s plan to boost export in the remaining period, it will emphasise five activities. For instance, there will be 12 “Thailand Week” roadshows in six countries featuring five particular products and services. The activities will focus on Asean, South Asia, China and Russia.
Missions to lead Thai exporters to meet with importers overseas will be organised. The department will also cooperate with the private sector to stimulate importers, multinational enterprises, and trading firms to increase their orders from Thailand.
The setting up of distribution centres in new targeted markets, including Poland, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, will be supported. Also, small and medium-sized enterprises will be supported financially to penetrate overseas markets.
The strategy to promote sales of goods online will be supported. The department aims to increase the number of e-traders on its thaitrade.com website from 10,000 last year to 15,000 this year.
