Two companies, Shekou Container Terminals (SCT) and Chiwan Container Terminal (CCT) - the flagships of China's biggest terminal operator, China Merchants Holdings (International) - held a seminar in Thailand this week to promote its businesses to about 200 local participants, including exporters, shipping firms and logistics companies.

SCT general manager Michael Zhou said Thailand, which has a free-trade agreement with China, would be strategically important for his country as a hub for distributing China's products to Asean markets. As well, his company wants to build up its customer base in Thailand.

China is Thailand's third-largest trade partner. Last year, the volume of Thailand's imports from China rose 25.5 per cent, and its exports to China expanded 28.5 per cent. Traded products include machinery, rice, rubber, plastics and fresh fruit.

Zhou said trade between China, Southeast Asia and India would be increasingly important in the future and called Thailand geographically important as the centre of his company's product distribution to the region.

The terminals of SCT and CCT provide shipment services linking Thailand, Southeast Asia and southern China eight times a week.

SCT chief marketing officer Robert Beilin said SCT and CCT wanted to promote further expansion of trade between China and Thailand by using the companies' facilities and systems to provide convenience for Thai exporters.

Among the systems are predeclaration, centralised-inspection and import-transfer systems that enable faster customs processing and release of Thai exports into China.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation