BANGKOK, Aug 6 (TNA) – Thai shippers urge the
government to set up a panel to boost exports as the country’s exports will
likely contract this year due mainly to the US-China trade row.
The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) Chairperson Ghanyapad
Tantipipatpong said at the press conference on Tuesday that the Council projected Thai exports
contraction of 1% or more this year.
Thai exporters faced a myriad of risk factors especially the
baht’s appreciation, the Brexit, Hong Kong protests and trade disputes between
the US and China, she said.
To systematically handling these risks, Thailand needed a
panel or “war room” of academics and trade experts set up by the Commerce
Ministry, Ghanyapad appealed.
She said customs-cleared goods shipments fell by 2.15
percent year-on-year in June; dropping for the fourth consecutive month. For the first half of the year, shipments
were down 2.9 percent from the same period.
The Council also called on the Bank of Thailand to oversee
the currency exchange and the government to drop daily minimum wage rise
proposal, she added.
In the meantime, the Council would propose its
recommendations for best practices on how to expand into new markets and boost
exports for government’s consideration, said Ghanyapad.(TNA)
