Thailand to promote its trading in South Africa

Senior Director of the Department of Export Promotion Adisai Thammakupt (อดิสัย ธรรมคุปต์) stated that Thai businesspersons and entrepreneurs are being encouraged to expand their businesses in South Africa, one of the major trading partners of Thailand that has a high purchasing power.

Mr. Adisai disclosed that both countries are important trading partners. Over the past three years, the annual trading between them has increased by 25 percent, and their trading value stands at 40 billion baht.

Thailand and South Africa will work together in exchanging their traders to study the markets in both countries. Mr. Adisai said Thailand hopes to gain knowledge from such cooperation to improve the production of auto parts as well as consumer goods, as this would help meet with the needs of Africa. He also stated that Thailand is encouraging entrepreneurs to expand their exports and to organize exhibitions in each country of Africa such as Kenya and Angola.

Mr. Adisai stated that trading partners in Africa have high purchasing power as they produce valuable products such as gold. They are also new oil producers. He said if Thailand succeeds in expanding the country’s exports in Africa, then the export value for this year would increase by 30 percent. Thailand will be able to generate an income of 1.2 billion US dollars.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 September 2006

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Commerce Ministry expects 30% export growth in southern Africa

BANGKOK, Sept 5 (TNA) - The Thai Commerce Ministry expects the country's exports to southern Africa will grow more than 30 per cent--to US$1.2 billion in value this year.

Adisai Thammakup, Senior Director of the ministry's Trade Promotion Office in Pretoria, South Africa, said on Tuesday that southern Africa is another potential market for Thai export products.

The region is ranked as Thailand's top trading partner in Africa with the trade value of more than 40 billion baht.

The region comprises of South Africa, Kenya, and Angola, where people's purchasing power is high.

He said the Department of Export Promotion had attempted to boost a public awareness of Thai products on the market and increase the export value by organizing trade exhibition fairs there.

He revealed that Thailand's export value on the market grew around 26 per cent in the first half of this year, projecting that it would grow 30 per cent to US$1.2 billion or around 50 billion baht for the whole year.

The department is set to organize the Thailand Exhibition 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya, during November 8-11 to encourage Thai producers and exporters to expand their market into East Africa.

Source: TNA - 5 September 2006