According to Thailand’s “World Journal”, although the Ministry of Private Industry predicts that exports will slow down in 2009, the Ministry of Commerce still announced that the export growth target for 2009 is 5%. The Ministry of Commerce has instructed the Department of Export Promotion to step up export promotion and asked commercial ambassadors to closely track market trends in trading partner countries. Private enterprises are reminded not to lay off workers on the grounds of export slowdown, which will worsen the economic crisis.
Shiripong, Executive Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, said that based on the report of the Department of Export Promotion, he believed that the export growth rate in 2009 could achieve the 5% target. Although various industries have assessed that exports will experience negative growth in 2009, the Ministry of Commerce will take additional measures to stimulate exports to promote export growth.
Affected by the global economic slowdown, it is estimated that exports of textiles, leather, footwear, etc. are expected to maintain good growth levels in 2009.
Siripong said that the Ministry of Commerce has also instructed commercial counselors stationed in various countries to help promote exports, closely track changes in the Thai commodity market, and actively explore the market. At the same time, efforts should be made to explain to foreign countries that the domestic situation has returned to normal and rebuild investor confidence.
In addition, the Department of Export Promotion is required to develop measures to stimulate exports, and export operators are reminded not to fire workers and use machines to replace labor on the grounds that exports slowed down in 2009 or the company has no net profit.
