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51872
Mon, 03/23/2009 - 20:37
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http://m.oananews.org//node/51872
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Ministry of Commerce issues urgent measures to boost exports
BANGKOK, March 23 (TNA) - Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has issued five ‘urgent measures’ designed to boost exports in the hope that they will move into the black in the third quarter of 2009, after showing red for some months, Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai said on Monday.
The measures were issued after exports in January and February contracted 26 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. The ministry has maintained that exports overall this year would grow between zero and 3 per cent.
According to Mrs. Pornthiva, the five measures include organising the ‘Thailand’s Best Friends’ programme in which more than 100 major importers of Thai goods would be invited to meet with Thai government officials and the private sector between June 22-27, accompanying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on roadshows to China, Japan, South Africa and Russia in April and May and also send trade representatives to get market access in 24 countries.
Other measures are boosting the cash flow of businesses by asking the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) to increase lending and help cover insurance risks at the amount of Bt5 billion, building an online trade business to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises, and conducting a ‘Made in Thailand’ fair between July 3-12 at Bangkok’s Impact Muang Thong Thani as well as trade fairs in four provinces aimed at stimulating trade with the Mekong River basin countries.
Mrs. Pornthiva said she is optimistic that exports would become positive in the third quarter this year.
Meanwhile, Surapong Paisitpatnapong, spokesman of the Federation of Thai Industries’ Automotive Industry Club, said auto sales during the first two months this year stood at 66,446 units, down 30.3 per cent from the corresponding period of 2008, while sales of motorcycles stood at 229,417 units, a decline of 19.04 per cent.
Exports of passenger cars during the period were 20,083 units, down 38.14 per cent from the same period last year, while exports for one-tonne trucks were at 74,196 units, a retreat of 25.96 per cent.
The country earned about Bt63.475 billion from exports of cars, motorcycles and automotive parts during this first two months of this year, Mr. Surapong said.
He said declines in exports of auto, motorcycles and parts during the first two months of 2009 were attributed to global economic crisis which slowed demand from overseas markets, loans from financial institutions became stricter, and drops in crop prices and the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand. (TNA)
The measures were issued after exports in January and February contracted 26 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. The ministry has maintained that exports overall this year would grow between zero and 3 per cent.
According to Mrs. Pornthiva, the five measures include organising the ‘Thailand’s Best Friends’ programme in which more than 100 major importers of Thai goods would be invited to meet with Thai government officials and the private sector between June 22-27, accompanying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on roadshows to China, Japan, South Africa and Russia in April and May and also send trade representatives to get market access in 24 countries.
Other measures are boosting the cash flow of businesses by asking the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) to increase lending and help cover insurance risks at the amount of Bt5 billion, building an online trade business to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises, and conducting a ‘Made in Thailand’ fair between July 3-12 at Bangkok’s Impact Muang Thong Thani as well as trade fairs in four provinces aimed at stimulating trade with the Mekong River basin countries.
Mrs. Pornthiva said she is optimistic that exports would become positive in the third quarter this year.
Meanwhile, Surapong Paisitpatnapong, spokesman of the Federation of Thai Industries’ Automotive Industry Club, said auto sales during the first two months this year stood at 66,446 units, down 30.3 per cent from the corresponding period of 2008, while sales of motorcycles stood at 229,417 units, a decline of 19.04 per cent.
Exports of passenger cars during the period were 20,083 units, down 38.14 per cent from the same period last year, while exports for one-tonne trucks were at 74,196 units, a retreat of 25.96 per cent.
The country earned about Bt63.475 billion from exports of cars, motorcycles and automotive parts during this first two months of this year, Mr. Surapong said.
He said declines in exports of auto, motorcycles and parts during the first two months of 2009 were attributed to global economic crisis which slowed demand from overseas markets, loans from financial institutions became stricter, and drops in crop prices and the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand. (TNA)
