Shoe exports to reach Bt30 bn

 Mingphan Chayavichitsilp, president of FTI's shoe manufacturers club, is also bullish that the US economy would pick up soon after the presidential election, and that would benefit Thai exporters.

 Of total shoe export volume, 27 per cent is destined to the US, down from 35 per cent ten years ago.

 However, Mingphan expressed that he is concerned with the 2009 outlook, though citing that Thailand has focused on quality products as it cannot compete on labour costs.

 Thailand is now the world's fifth largest shoe exporter, following China, Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia.