Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has set a target of 6.5 percent growth for exports to member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
To achieve the goal, the DITP will develop a network of business owners, state-run enterprises, and governmental agencies that will play a significant role in promoting Thai exports to ASEAN member states.
Its plan includes encouraging Thai companies to partner with ASEAN investors, promoting Thai cultural products in the ASEAN market, establishing a centre for distributing Thai crops and construction materials in Myanmar and backing domestic small- and medium-sized enterprises to connect with the rest of ASEAN.
The Thai Ministry of Commerce also urged local exporters to make the most of free trade agreements (FTAs) to boost exports.
Adul Chotinisakorn, Deputy Director of the ministry’s Department of Foreign Trade, said Thailand currently has 17 FTAs with 12 countries throughout Asia, Oceania and South America.
Last year, Thai traders shipped 60 billion USD worth of goods to these areas, up 15.2 percent from 2016 and accounting for 71.32 percent of Thailand’s export value.
He underlined that FTAs offer an advantage for exporters as they provide tax waivers and deductions for goods made in Thailand./.