Exporters look to recovery in 2014
THE Thai National Shippers Council projects that exports will grow by only 1 per cent this year, but expects growth next year to climb to 5-7 per cent after the hoped-for recovery of the global economy.
TNSC chairman Nopporn Thepsithar said exports this year had suffered severe impacts from many trading partners. However, the situation in Thailand is better than experienced by some trade rivals in the region, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, which have all faced export declines this year.
Nopporn said that with a more positive outlook for recovery in many countries next year, Thai shipments should expand by 5-7 per cent.
The TNSC estimates that the value of exports in the rest of this year will average US$19.8 billion to $20 billion (Bt615 billion to Bt622 billion) a month.
Vallop Vitanakorn, vice chairman of the council, said the government should create sustainable measures to drive export growth in the long run, such as elimination of non-tariff barriers and development of the logistics system.
The labour shortage should also be solved urgently as it is affecting many industries.
He said the government should also encourage more Thai enterprises to trade and invest overseas.
The export sector should become a priority for the government, which needs to set up a concrete plan to promote export in the short and long terms, he added.
