Commerce Ministry Targets Expansion Of Exports To Japan At 20% This Year

[Jai Dee]

Commerce Ministry targets expansion of exports to Japan at 20% this year

The Ministry of Commerce has targeted to expand exports to Japan by 20% this year, as the Japanese clients are confident in the quality of Thai products and the punctuality in delivery.

Export Promotion Department Director-General Chantra Purnariksha (จันทรา บูรณฤกษ์) said this year the export growth target is 17.5%, which would contribute to a total of 130 billion US dollars. This target is set based on the global economy that has been continually expanding. Mrs. Chantra said that Japan is of special note, where Thai operators need to quickly seek opportunities and collaborations in trade, in order to improve competitiveness. The Department of Export Promotion will maintain its emphasis on finding raw materials and capital goods in order to reduce costs for the operators as much as it can, as such cost had increased significantly last year.

Last year exports to Japan grew 12.3%, totaling 15.1 billion dollars. This year the growth target has been revised to 20%, in order to push the total amount to 18.2 billion dollars.

Mrs. Chantra said that the expectation was due to the better growth by the Japanese economy. It was also noted that Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak's (สมคิด จาตุศรีพิทักษ์) delegation to Japan has made the Japanese state and private sectors more assured of the quality of Thai goods.

Despite their prices being 10-20% higher than those from China, the products from Thailand are of quality and delivery is punctual.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 Febuary 2006