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Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya has called for a meeting of senior officials from the ministry to review this year’s export-growth target for a possible downgrade from 1.2 per cent to zero.

In the first six months, outbound shipments shrank 4.8 per cent. However, this was better than other exporting countries and, more important, Thailand still retained its share in other markets, he said yesterday, expressing confidence for export growth in the latter half.

Chatchai said he would join a meeting of the joint committee for Thai-Pakistani trade from August 12-13 with the aim to boost two-way trade to US$2 billion (Bt70 billion) by 2017.

It would also encourage cooperation in both countries’ high-potential fields including jewellery and accessories, food, agriculture and fisheries, automobiles and parts, and textiles.

Thailand aims to use Pakistan as a source of jewellery and fish, and a destination for automobiles and parts.

Mitsubishi training centre in Bangkok

Mitsubishi Electric Kang Yong Watana Co, a Thai subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, is opening a Bt400-million training centre to strengthen human-resources development in advanced equipment for housing and commercial buildings, including air-conditioning, home-appliance and housing systems.

The Advance & Innovation Centre is scheduled to start operating on August 17 in Bangkok.

"Since the establishment of our company in 1971, we have earned the trust of local customers as a market leader in air-conditioning and home appliances," Yasushi Moriyama, managing director of the local unit, said yesterday.

"As the demand for eco-friendly products continues to accelerate, we will utilise our facility to educate people on the latest innovations and technology towards our 50th anniversary in 2021."