PM encourages Thais to purchase locally-made products

[webfact]

PM encourages Thais to purchase locally-made products

 

 

BANGKOK, 28 November 2016 (NNT) – The Prime Minister of Thailand has asked the public to help boost the domestic economy by buying the products of the famous “One Tambon One Product” project. 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said this is an opportune time for Thai people to help enliven the country’s economy. He said those looking for Christmas and New Year gifts should consider buying locally-made items. Not only does it spur economic growth, it also helps generate income for local producers. 

OTOP products can be found at various locations including community markets and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem near Government House in Bangkok. 

He said if Thais support one another, it will create a chain of value and ensure sustainable economic development, adding that Thailand will then depend less on exports, which is something the country has been trying to achieve.

 

-- nnt 2016-11-28

[debate101]

Ummm... domestic consumers have much less spending power than members of the international market. If businesses which currently export have to rely more on domestic consumption, the prices they can sell for will be lower and will lead to general deflation.

 

If the country plans to isolate itself economically, the value of its currency will become like those of Laos or Myammar in comparison to other global currencies unless there is a corresponding rise in the productive efficieny of local labor. Hard to see how that happens without being spurred by international competition.

 

Based on their stated goals, it looks like North Korea is the preferred model rather than South.

[DM07]

Yeah, my kids will love a PS4 made in Thailand...or a silk purse...


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[sharecropper]

In my experience OTOP products are ridiculously overpriced for foreigners, let alone Thais.

[dominique355]

OTOP? Wasn't that an initiative from Thaksin?

[thai3]

One tambon one product, but mostly overpriced silk and posh handicraft tat. Never noticed any locally produced iphones , Samsung models or watches etc, it's all non technological stuff you can do without.

[impulse]

I'd be curious to know who gets the bulk of the money when I buy something at an OTOP shop.

 

If I were a betting man, I'd bet the middlemen take a big cut, and the owner of the space leased to the OTOP shop gets a good cut and the hard working lady who wove the beautiful basket gets diddly squat.

 

I hope someone here can dispel my cynicism...

 

Edit:  Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great concept.  And I'm not so cynical to believe a small village has the $$ billions of baht to build a factory to make I-Phones.  But I'd be more likely to spend my dosh at one of the "Made in Thailand" festivals where I hand it over to the actual lady weaving the basket right in the kiosk.  Though I've seen that used as a ploy, too when she reaches back into the tent and pulls out a bagged basket, and she's still working on the same one 2-3 days later.

[bobmac10]

Most of the Thai made goods I purchase fall apart  quickly or a badly designed.

[impulse]

8 minutes ago, bobmac10 said:

Most of the Thai made goods I purchase fall apart  quickly or a badly designed.

 

After every holiday, several of our employees will bring us back gifts of products made in their home towns.  I have found most of them to be beautifully crafted and durable.   I guess that it helps to know the goods they're buying.

 

Sadly you'll notice that my description didn't include the word "useful".  But I am a guy, and most of them are pretty decorative and geared toward people with good taste.  That's not me.

[Lupatria]

To put some weight to his promotion he should have mentioned: "because they last longer"

[rkidlad]

My missus wants an iPhone 7 for her birthday, but knowing how much Thais love each other, I will have to get her an i-mobile. Must respect the culture. She will be so pleased. 

[AlQaholic]

T-Phone made in Thailand.......

[Laughing Gravy]

I agree with this in principle especially food products if they are the same quality. I wish the UK would do the same but then you get called being racist and xenophobic for wanting to buy Cheese from the UK instead of France.

 

I do remember in the early 2000s Taksin saying something similar, as he was whisked away in his Jaguar on his New Nokia phone. I would suggest that lead politicians should lead by example.

[Sphere]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

....purchase locally-made products...

 

Doesn't everyone already own a wooden phallus or croaking frog, by now? 

[jerojero]

He won't be a hit with Tesco with that plea to millions of consumers.

[Redline]

All of that stuff is way cheaper from China.  They have a trade agreement with China, so Thai goods will always be more expensive. The Chinese go for quantity, Thai businesses want to make a 100% from 1 sale.  Better if you tell everyone to grow their own food, and make their own blankets.

[bark]

6 hours ago, dominique355 said:

OTOP? Wasn't that an initiative from Thaksin?

 

5 hours ago, impulse said:

 

After every holiday, several of our employees will bring us back gifts of products made in their home towns.  I have found most of them to be beautifully crafted and durable.   I guess that it helps to know the goods they're buying.

 

Sadly you'll notice that my description didn't include the word "useful".  But I am a guy, and most of them are pretty decorative and geared toward people with good taste.  That's not me.

Yes join the club. Look good , but are useless :) I have bought food, which is ok and safe to eat.

[rkidlad]

4 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

I agree with this in principle especially food products if they are the same quality. I wish the UK would do the same but then you get called being racist and xenophobic for wanting to buy Cheese from the UK instead of France.

 

I do remember in the early 2000s Taksin saying something similar, as he was whisked away in his Jaguar on his New Nokia phone. I would suggest that lead politicians should lead by example.

Unfortunately, it's very much a culture of do as I say and not do as I do. That's usually why many things are no deeper than what they appear, 

[PremiumLane]

5 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

I agree with this in principle especially food products if they are the same quality. I wish the UK would do the same but then you get called being racist and xenophobic for wanting to buy Cheese from the UK instead of France.

 

I do remember in the early 2000s Taksin saying something similar, as he was whisked away in his Jaguar on his New Nokia phone. I would suggest that lead politicians should lead by example.

 

What a load of tosh and it is laughable considering Indian curry was voted the top British national dish

 

No one gets called racist for buying British produce, there are lots of marketing campaigns etc. to encourage people to buy British

[dwcrist]

I might encourage him to do the same what with all the purchases of military hardware, infrastructure, and government paid Hawaiian vacation "meetings".

[trainman34014]

Yup...can't have people buying all that well made Farang stuff; must make them buy shoddy or fake goods that fall apart in five minutes so they have to buy yet another piece of crap !

[Mook23]

9 hours ago, Sphere said:

 

Doesn't everyone already own a wooden phallus or croaking frog, by now? 

Looool. ?

Im off buying locally made Vuitton for my locally made gik!

Not a joke btw. 555.

[Balance]

15 hours ago, debate101 said:

Ummm... domestic consumers have much less spending power than members of the international market. If businesses which currently export have to rely more on domestic consumption, the prices they can sell for will be lower and will lead to general deflation.

 

If the country plans to isolate itself economically, the value of its currency will become like those of Laos or Myammar in comparison to other global currencies unless there is a corresponding rise in the productive efficieny of local labor. Hard to see how that happens without being spurred by international competition.

 

Based on their stated goals, it looks like North Korea is the preferred model rather than South.

 

Except for a very small number of wealthy Thais, there is not enough disposable income to make much of a difference, unless Thais go further into debt.  The economy seems to have the same problems as the educational system: decades of benign to active neglect and an infrastructure that will not support real reform, and monumental self-interest in opposition to any change.

[Xircal]

12 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

T-Phone made in Thailand.......

 

For a minute there, I thought I was looking at a barrel bomb.

[gemini81]

Good idea, as far as girls & food goes.....