Government to Strongly Promote International Trade

(21/09/2011)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stated that the Government was determined to promote international trade and work in strong economic partnerships with other countries. The statement was part of her address when she presided over the Prime Minister’s Export Award for 2011 and presented awards to 31 exporters who were named winners for this year. Organized by the Ministry of Commerce, the event took place at Santi Maitri Building, Government House, on 19 September 2011. In her statement, Prime Minister Yingluck urged Thai exporters to prepare for the integration of an ASEAN single market in four years’ time under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). She pointed out that AEC would be a large market with a population of 600 million and a combined GDP of 1.5 trillion US dollars. In the face of this situation, she stressed the need for all sectors of Thai society to join hands in moving the country forward and creating greater opportunities to expand Thai markets overseas. The Prime Minister explained that in the 21st century, prices of products would no longer become a major factor in marketing. The question is how to enhance the quality of products and services in order to create a brand image. She said that entrepreneurs needed to increase the value of their products and services, so that the country’s brand image would make a name for Thailand, thus enabling it to maintain and expand its markets. The Prime Minister’s Export Award began in 1992, when the Export Development Committee under the Ministry of Commerce appointed a subcommittee to identify Thailand’s top exporters and award them for their efforts to expand Thai markets overseas. It has played an important role in promoting the Thai export and service sectors. The Prime Minister’s Export Award, the 20th of its kind this year, is classified into five categories, namely Best Exporter, Thai-owned Brand, Design Excellence Award, Best Service Provider, and OTOP Export Recognition. According to the Director-General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Mrs. Srirat Rastpana, Thai exports to the ASEAN market now stand at 23 percent of the country’s total export value. She believed that after the formation of the ASEAN Community by 2015, Thailand’s export proportion in the ASEAN region would increase to 30 percent. The Yingluck Shinawatra administration’s policy seeks to promote and expand integration in the areas of trade, economy, investment, and finance in order to enhance mutual benefits under cooperative frameworks and international trade agreements.