Drive to create new exporters
The Commerce Ministry plans to encourage 12,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become new exporters this year, to drive the country's export growth.
To support the plan, the ministry has launched a programme to train local enterprises nationwide, entitled "Develop Regional Enterprises". Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet yesterday said many obstacles, including the baht's appreciation, a slow-down in world trading and decreasing consumer confidence, would hamper the Kingdom's economic growth this year. Amid the strengthening baht, Krirk-krai expressed concern that the agriculture sector would be hardest hit, because it operated at a lower margin. He agreed that the Bank of Thailand should issue any measures that would decrease exporters' risks. However, he also called for exporters to increase their business efficiency rather than rely on a weak currency. The baht yesterday jumped to yet another nine-year high, this time 35.13 to the US dollar. To ensure sustainable export growth for Thailand, the government will concentrate more on encouraging SMEs to become efficient exporters, Krirk-krai said. Some SMEs have already started exporting, but the number is still relatively small, due to their lack of export experience in terms of marketing strategies, human-resource development and trading agents in their targeted export markets. However, the ministry believes their products have high a export potential. Targeted enterprises are ones dealing in furniture and decorative items, garments, spa and healthcare products, food items and processed food. "The ministry will focus on human-resource development, since that is the key to a successful business," he said, adding that Thai SMEs should be the ministry's vital arm boosting the Kingdom's exports in the near future. Thus far, 580 SMEs in the North have already been trained to become exporters. The ministry yesterday held a second training programme in Bangkok for 500 SMEs from the central and the northeastern regions, organised jointly with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries. Under the plan, the ministry will help new exporters by providing information on potential markets, techniques for conducting business and the creation of networks among local importers and distribution centres in each target market. A third training programme will be held in Khon Kaen from March 19-21.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
|
