Exports 'in dire need of money'

Board and chamber chairman Pramon Sutivong said yesterday exports were the way to boost the economy and the government must pay more attention to allocating supplementary budget to support them or they would face flat growth this year.

"If the government would like to see export expansion in a sluggish world economy, it must inject more money into the sector," he said.

The Cabinet has approved Bt1 billion for domestic growth and ignored exports, which Pramon said required Bt3 billion to stay as they were and Bt1 billion-Bt2 billion to create a surplus this year.

The ministry wants to drive exports up 3 per cent to US$184.7 billion (Bt6.5 trillion) this year.

Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said that with a limited budget this would be difficult.

"We need money to mount road shows, develop product value, solve exporters' liquidity problems, market and boost the image of Thai goods.

Other urgent tasks, the chamber said, are modernising trade acts and enforcing the Retail and Wholesale Business Act.