ID :
199080
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 08:53
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/199080
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Thai exporters utilise FTAs only 50%: Survey
BANGKOK, August 4 (TNA) - A recent survey showed that Thai exporters have utilised free trade agreements (FTA) only some 50 per cent; while importers having made use of the existing trade liberalisation pacts only some 40 per cent.
The survey, jointly conducted by Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and the Thai Ministry of Industry's Office of Industrial Economics, found that local exporters have saved about 100 billion baht from their 50 per cent utilisation of the existing FTAs over the past 10 years and would save up to 180 billion baht if they fully utilised the trade liberalisation pacts.
A TDRI academic, Chettha Intarawitak, said that local importers have, on the other hand, saved some 59 billion baht from their utilisation of about 40 per cent of the existing FTAs over the past decade.
Chettha acknowledged the survey, publicised on Thursday, also found that major obstacles to Thai business operators' full utilisation of the FTAs include red-taped bureaucratic procedures and improper or insufficient understanding of rules of origins and tariff reductions offered by the FTAs.
According to the survey, Thailand's exporters of automobile parts have mostly made use of the FTAs, particularly in ASEAN member economies, as the Thai economy has now become a largest auto parts production base in the region, replacing Japan following devastating earthquake and tsunami, with radiation leaks subsequently, in the Japanese northeastern region on March 11.
Meanwhile, Paiboon Polsuwanna, Chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC), called on the Thai government to work together with the local private sector to provide proper information on available FTAs to local entrepreneurs in order to promote more utilisation of the trade liberalisation pacts. (TNA)
The survey, jointly conducted by Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and the Thai Ministry of Industry's Office of Industrial Economics, found that local exporters have saved about 100 billion baht from their 50 per cent utilisation of the existing FTAs over the past 10 years and would save up to 180 billion baht if they fully utilised the trade liberalisation pacts.
A TDRI academic, Chettha Intarawitak, said that local importers have, on the other hand, saved some 59 billion baht from their utilisation of about 40 per cent of the existing FTAs over the past decade.
Chettha acknowledged the survey, publicised on Thursday, also found that major obstacles to Thai business operators' full utilisation of the FTAs include red-taped bureaucratic procedures and improper or insufficient understanding of rules of origins and tariff reductions offered by the FTAs.
According to the survey, Thailand's exporters of automobile parts have mostly made use of the FTAs, particularly in ASEAN member economies, as the Thai economy has now become a largest auto parts production base in the region, replacing Japan following devastating earthquake and tsunami, with radiation leaks subsequently, in the Japanese northeastern region on March 11.
Meanwhile, Paiboon Polsuwanna, Chairman of the Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC), called on the Thai government to work together with the local private sector to provide proper information on available FTAs to local entrepreneurs in order to promote more utilisation of the trade liberalisation pacts. (TNA)
