DIP aims for higher leatherwear and shoe exports

BANGKOK, 27 June 2015 (NNT) – The Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP) is aiming for greater exports of Thai leather wear and shoes during the second half of the year hoping to exceed sixty billion baht in value by year's end, after seeing data that shows exports by the industry in the first quarter (Jan-Mar) increased 4.75 percent compared to the same quarter of last year.

Nisakorn Jungjaroentham, the DIP’s Deputy Director General said that the overall fashion industry is important to the Thai economy. Last year, the industry in total generated over 800 billion baht revenue, five hundred billion from exports and 320 billion baht from domestic consumption. The industry also created jobs for over two million people.

Ms. Nisakorn pointed out that when looking at just the Leather wear and Shoes industry, the export figures demonstrate that the product is in high demand and achieving good growth as Thailand has advantages in producing well designed, quality products.

To generate greater sales and make Thai products more recognizable, the DIP is now creating the ‘Signature brand of Thailand’. The scheme is intended to add value to the Thai fashion product, raising its image to the level of international styles. Meanwhile some Thai entrepreneurs are developing fashionable shoes that also come with health benefits, an innovation designed to satisfy the needs of the market where many people who place importance on style and fashion are equally aware of the need to protect their good health.

As the innovative fashion with health industry is growing, the DIP continues to organize more projects to further inspire entrepreneurial creative potential. The DIP is helping entrepreneurs with their product development by providing experts to give advice, and consultants in factory production process management, to reduce problems or eliminate barriers to production, resulting in a more efficient use of resources.

Through the development of the fashion industry in Thailand, that the DIP has been mentoring for the past two years, Ms. Nisakorn is confident that by the end of 2015 the value of Thai shoes and leather wear exports will increase to 60 billion baht from the present 50 billion baht yearly revenue.

-- NNT 2015-06-27

Clark's, the iconic British shoe manufacturer, has already moved some if not most of it's production to Vietnam. At least that's what it looks like when you read the labels on their shoes for sale in Britain. I went to a shopping mall in Bangkok and was overjoyed to find a Clark's shop, but the prices were just the same as those in Britain, the range very limited and none my size anyway. European prices for Thai made goods bought in Thailand somehow seems to be a rip-off.

I suspect that a "Made in Thailand" label will not invoke the quality status Ms Nisakorn desires, rather it will say "cheap copy" to most European buyers, bit like "Made in Hong Kong" used to. Only "Made in Japan" managed that leap.