Trade missions, expos planned to shore up exports
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The International Trade Promotion Department plans many trade missions and exhibitions for the fourth quarter as a last-ditch move to boost exports before the end of the year.
Exports shrank by 0.42 per cent year on year in the first seven months, while the Commerce Ministry has targeted 3.5-per-cent growth for the full year.
Duangkamol Jiambutr, deputy director-general of the department, said it would set up 13 trade missions to various markets, while accepting that the export target would be missed because of many negative factors.
“Exports could expand by about 1.9 per cent, less than the previous target of 3.5 per cent, because of slower growth and import demand in some markets, mainly China and Asean,” she said.
In the worst-case scenario, the department has projected that exports would grow by only 1.6 per cent in the remaining months. The ministry had projected that exports during the remaining months of the year would grow by about 5 per cent, for a value above US$20.5 billion. The full-year growth target of 3.5 per cent is based on the global economy expanding by 3.6-3.7 per cent, and the baht staying around 31.50 against the US dollar.
The department will set up 13 trade missions focusing on particular sectors, including food, services, heavy industry, fashion, and health and beauty, for business matching. For instance, it will send a printing-industry mission to Indonesia, missions promoting air-conditioners and refrigerators to Italy and Australia, and missions for automobiles, and motorcycles and parts to Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore.
On the other hand, Thailand will also host a business-matching trade mission from Japan’s garment importers wishing to meet with local manufacturers.
The department will organise two service-business promotions at film festivals in Korea and the United States. It will also organise events promoting Thai food in the US and Germany.
To enhance confidence in Thailand and Thai products, the department will join the Asian Trade Promotion Forum’s CEO Meeting and the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum.
The department will encourage Thai enterprises to penetrate the Asean and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) markets because of their economic growth and increasing purchasing power. Other target destinations are Kazakhstan, Morocco and Ningxia, an autonomous region in northwestern China.
Moreover, small and medium-sized enterprises will be encouraged to join overseas trade exhibitions, with 391 SMEs joining 76 trade activities between now and December.
Domestically, Thailand will host four international trade fairs: the “Bangkok Gems and Jewellery Fair”, the “Thailand Innovation and Design Expo”, the “Thailand International Logistics Fair” and the “Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair”. The department will also organise other trade fairs to promote particular Thai products.
