Export Growth Expected at 3% This Year

BANGKOK, May 31 (TNA) — Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said Thai exports would grow by 3% this year and officials should seriously woo foreign travelers to visit Thailand.

Mr Somkid met trade promotion officials stationed in 53 countries and said the trade dispute between China and the United States was affecting global trade and Thailand could not avoid the situation. He instructed the officials to give information to the US to encourage its orders for Thai products and promote Thai exports in India, the economy of which was growing rapidly by 7%.

He said that the Commerce Ministry should join forces with the Board of Investment and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to woo more foreigners to visit the country. More arrivals of foreigners would boost the purchase of Thai products, Mr Somkid said.

He said that the Commerce Ministry’s export growth target at 3% this year was realistic.

Banjongjitt Angsusingh, director of the Department of International Trade Promotion, said exports in the first four months of this year fell by 1.9%. If in the rest eight months exports expand by 5% to US$21-22 billion a month, the annual growth pace can be 3% to the value of US$260.18 billion, she said.

The Commerce Ministry would try hard in important markets like China, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Russia, she said. (TNA)