Export Chief Confident Thai Exports to Grow as Targeted This Year

Director-General Srirat Rastapana said she is confident that exports this year will reach the growth target because the department had improved its strategy to promote the export of individual products.

Additionally, the department is working more closely with the private sector to push for the shipment of new products and goods with a Thai identity.

She said the DEP will focus on helping small-and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) penetrate new export markets within ASEAN because the ASEAN Free Trade Area took effect on January 1.

Under the agreement, import tariffs collected within ASEAN will fall to zero in percentage terms.

She said the Ministry of Commerce will send officials to visit clients in new major export destinations such as Japan, China, and India in a bid to maintain the market share and find channels to expand the market.