Thai Commerce Min set to penetrate African market

[webfact]

Min of Commerce set to penetrate African market

PRETORIA, 29 July 2015 (NNT) – Minister of Commerce Gen Chatchai Sarikalya has convened a special meeting with Thai ambassadors and commercial attach?s in major African countries to discuss ways to expand trade opportunities.

Talks were held in Pretoria, South Africa between Gen Chatchai, the Thai ambassador to South Africa, and commercial attach?s in Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya. The Commerce Minister urged them to build confidence in Thailand's political situation among African businessmen by stressing the government’s intention to complete the reform roadmap to sustainable democracy and strengthen international trade relations.

Gen Chatchai also instructed the commercial attach?s to analyze market trends in African countries to see which products or businesses can succeed in African markets. The Commerce Minister has led a team of Thai business operators to launch a trade roadshow and explore business opportunities in South Africa between July 25 and 30.

Exports to Africa during the first half of the year were valued at three billion dollars, representing a 15% fall. Main products, including rice and vehicles, faced a sales drop due to a decline in purchasing power among importers. However, exports in the second half of the year are likely to pick up, thanks to a series of government trade promotions.

-- NNT 2015-07-29

[Red Queen]

Thailand has pretty much ignored the African market for years, for reasons everyone here will know about. Now they're all of a clamour to move in there.

Sounds like they are pretty sure what the EU are going to do in a few months.

Judging from a statement from the Ministry of Commerce today (that USA will probably not impose sanctions), it also sounds like they pretty much know what the USA are going to do so they're desparately searching for new markets.

The numbers in the TIP report show conclusively how committed Thailand is to adhering to the 'minimum international standards', and Thailand trying to move into Africa shows they are aware of the odium they are held in internationally. Moving into a market hitherto shunned by Thailand must have been a really big (and hard) decision.

Edited July 29, 2015 by Red Queen

[Rama]

Great! I understand that Nigeria has many call centers that Thailand can utilize in Nigeria and they have access to many big African politicians with a lot of money and just need bank accounts to transfer the money into in order to infest (sorry, I meant invest) in Thailand. Not sure who's going to penetrate who though. Kinda like when the immovable object meets the irrestible force...

[masquerade]

Looking at his record over the last twelve months, the only market the this Minister is likely to penetrate is the local flesh market. Better tell his missus not to buy too much wood, hubby will probably be bringing home a load.

[mojorison]

Thailand has pretty much ignored the African market for years, for reasons everyone here will know about. Now they're all of a clamour to move in there.

Sounds like they are pretty sure what the EU are going to do in a few months.

Judging from a statement from the Ministry of Commerce today (that USA will probably not impose sanctions), it also sounds like they pretty much know what the USA are going to do so they're desparately searching for new markets.

The numbers in the TIP report show conclusively how committed Thailand is to adhering to the 'minimum international standards', and Thailand trying to move into Africa shows they are aware of the odium they are held in internationally. Moving into a market hitherto shunned by Thailand must have been a really big (and hard) decision.

This is an astute post. I'd be willing to bet that in the not too distant future, when finally some semblance of order has been restored and Thailand has redeemed itself to the democratized world that a hasty divorce takes place. The beloved leader has been very quick to jump into bed with new bedfellows as he alienates existing partners. This is good and well, however a critical eye will suggest that he has constantly been downgrading, both economically and in prestige value. He pretends to bed China as it (falsely) seems the US alliance is on the nose (which it is not - the Americans see him as a temporary annoyance and nothing more), And he grovels up to the Russians believing that they may be major players in a new world order when the EU threaten him with sanctions. Now he courts Africa... no offence to Africa, but enough said. For the most part Africa is a war torn debacle of a continent, dying from famine, corruption, disease and bloodshed. I doubt he has any perception of what resides in Africa. At any rate, he is quick to find new (bad) friends, speaking from a developed, democratized, point of view that is, which I am pretty sure is the point of view of most modern Thais. With this in mind it is patently clear that the majority of Thais will (and do) find this behaviour unpalatable The Thais yearn for commercial, unadulterated, democratic freedom. This is clear. When the dust settles in years to come, all of these fly by night, half-cocked deals that the genius makes will fall by the wayside. As will Prayut himself.

[deckape]

Two pretty good posts. Thanks guys.