Overseas trade reps to meet next week to brainstorm export strategies
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IN RESPONSE to sluggish export growth, the Commerce Ministry has called an urgent meeting in Bangkok next Monday with Thai trade officers in overseas posts to brainstorm for strategies.
A senior source in the ministry said Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya would discuss with Thai trade representatives export obstacles and solutions suitable to each market.
As the priority agenda for the upcoming meeting, Chatchai will maintain the Kingdom’s export-growth target at 4 per cent for this year, despite many agencies and private-sector organisations now forecasting between 1.4 and 2.5 per cent.
The source said the minister was sticking with the 4-per-cent goal to encourage government officials and traders to promote export growth as much as possible.
“The 4-per-cent goal will be like a working target. The ministry will try to adjust many activities to drive export growth this year,” said the source.
During the meeting on Monday, the Commerce Ministry will also arrange an “export clinic” to advise small and medium-sized enterprises that are interested in start export businesses.
This Friday, the ministry will set up a workshop to advise enterprises about techniques and strategies for trading in each particular market.
The ministry will also organise a special seminar and business matching to encourage exporters to penetrate the so-called Visegrad Group (V4) of Central European markets – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – as they are potential markets for Thai foods, furniture, leather goods, electrical appliances and rubber products.
As part of its overall target of 4-per-cent export growth this year, the ministry has set the growth target for the major traditional markets (the United States, the European Union and Japan) at 1.9 per cent. Targeted groups for export promotions are elderly people, hotels, casinos, customers concerned about the environment, pet lovers and Hispanics.
For emerging markets like China, India, South Korea, the Middle East, Latin America and Russia, the ministry projects export growth of 6 per cent this year. Shipments to this market will focus on super-rich people, online shoppers and modern retailers.
The export-growth target for other markets, including Asean, Africa and South Asia excluding India, is set at 5.9 per cent. Products that will be shipped to these markets include agricultural products, construction materials, and sanitary and healthcare items.
