Govt project promotes business matching with regional neighbours

Pongpun Gearaviriyapun, director-general of the department, said the project aimed to increase Thai retailers’ and wholesalers’ efficiency when penetrating foreign markets amid borderless trading, starting among Asean countries.

Under the project, the department has invited retailers and wholesalers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to meet Thai retailers and wholesalers, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises in each province, so they can have a chance of business matching.

"Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have relied heavily on Thai imports, particularly foods and consumer goods. Thai retailers and wholesalers should take this opportunity of seamless trading to do business in Asean [countries]," Pongpun said.

She noted that people in neighbouring countries trusted the quality of Thai products. They will order more goods from Thailand under the Asean Economic Community.

The first business-matching project has seen 35 Thai SMEs join in, along with 26 local retailers and wholesalers, and 11 enterprises from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Thai Ekkapab Supercentre in Prachin Buri province has successfully signed the first sales contract, with Grand Mart, a retailer in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province. The initial contract was worth Bt170,000.

Pranee Nopparat Shop, a trader in Sa Kaew province, has signed a contract to supply 500 cartons of UHT (ultra-high temperature) soy milk to Lim Bou Shop, also in Banteay Meanchey province.

Plus Daily Mart in Vientiane has ordered 400 sachets of shrimp paste from S Sampakij, a wholesaler in Bangkok, and consumer goods from J Mart Superstore in Nong Bua Lamphu province worth more than Bt500,000.

Also, traders in Myanmar have shown great interest in ordering many products from Thai wholesalers.