The Thai government launched an initiative to boost the country’s exports to China, the world’s second-largest economy. The plan involves inviting 30 to 50 of China’s leading social media influencers to visit Thailand in May. During their stay, these influencers will livestream their Thai experiences, promoting local products from traditional elephant pants to native sweet treats to their followers back in China.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, shared this strategy during an interview with Bloomberg News in Bangkok.

“The world is changing. We have to think about new ways of selling things.”

 

He confirmed that the influencers would be incentivised via profit-sharing agreements for their promotional efforts. This new initiative follows a dip in exports to China in 2022, the first decline in seven years, leaving the United States as Thailand’s leading export market.

 

The Thai government recognises the importance of export growth in achieving Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin’s aim of increasing the country’s annual economic output to 5% during his term.

 

By Alex Morgan

Caption: PHOTO: via CNN

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-07

 

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48 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

This new initiative follows a dip in exports to China in 2022, the first decline in seven years, leaving the United States as Thailand’s leading export market.

 

Why no American influencers, then? 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai government launched an initiative to boost the country’s exports to China, the world’s second-largest economy. The plan involves inviting 30 to 50 of China’s leading social media influencers to visit Thailand in May. During their stay, these influencers will livestream their Thai experiences, promoting local products from traditional elephant pants to native sweet treats to their followers back in China.

Sick...

9 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Why no American influencers, then? 

Xi wouldn't allow Chinese to buy on the recommendation of an American purely on principle.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

promoting local products from traditional elephant pants

Isn't Thailand being flooded with Cheap Chinese made elephant pants?

"Thailand has ordered ports to crack down on imports of knock-off “elephant pant” trousers from China"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/06/thailand-knock-off-elephant-trousers-china/

How would there be any more demand in China for more expensive Thai-made Elephant pants?

Targeting a nation that is in financial distress?  Great plan!

So 30 to 50 chinese "influencers" get free airfare, probably RTP escorted transfers, hotel, food etc for their trip to Thailand. 

 

 Hopefully they will promote "real" elephant pants and Thai deserts.

 

Gosh what could go wrong?

 

Poor timing.  I'm sitting in China right now freezing my butt off.  Any video from Thailand looks like heaven right now.

 

By May, the weather here will be nice.  Videos from Thailand will look like, "meh, we have that here".

 

On a more serious note, other than tourism and fruit, I don't know what products Thailand exports that would be of interest to a typical Chinese influencer's audience.

 

9 minutes ago, impulse said:

On a more serious note, other than tourism and fruit, I don't know what products Thailand exports that would be of interest to a typical Chinese influencer's audience

 

Maybe condos.

33 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Maybe condos.

 

I could see that if it was developers or real estate brokers hiring the influencers. In fact, I'm sure that goes on.

 

But I can't see a gub'ment program to encourage capital flight like that.  Too much diplomatic risk.