The company hopes to sell more to Vietnam, said general manager Poomthep Malakul.

It will spend more than Bt30 million on promotion in five large Vietnamese cities. It has already spent Bt10 million on a showroom and a representative office.

Poomthep said Vietnam was a most attractive market at the moment, due to rapid growth, including its gross domestic product, which was forecast to rise 8.5 per cent this year.

"The main reason that makes us confident of success in Vietnam is our business partner, who has a strong customer base there," he said.

He said the company had not been seriously affected by a stronger baht, because it filled some orders for Vietnam with products from plants in Europe.

Although a strong baht reduces margins on exports from Thailand, the company compensates by boosting sales volume.

Besides Vietnam, it exports to Laos, Burma and Cambodia.

The domestic market is worth about Bt6 billion this year, an annual increase of 10 per cent. Of that, 70 per cent is lamps and the rest fixtures and other lighting equipment.

Chalida

Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation