Bright prospects for Thai electronic exports

BANGKOK, April 15 (TNA) - Thailand sets a positive outlook for electronics exports this year, with the commerce ministry urging local producers to continue keeping up with new market requirements of quality, particularly for products sold in Europe. Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general at the Ministry’s International Trade Promotion Department, said the value of electronic exports exceeded US$33 billion last year and rose by 4.3%. In the first two months of this year, the value reached $5.2 billion and increased by 5% thanks to higher demand for hard disk drives and integrated circuits for automobiles. The increased showed a positive outlook for electronics exports. If the labour shortage problem was solved and more promotional privileges for electronics production were offered, electronic exports should further rise. Nuntawan also said that electronic exports could increasingly expand if there were research and development as well as the production of medical equipment and the networking of relevant manufacturers to increase bargaining power. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikalya urged the private sector improve quality control measures because global markets attach increasing importance on quality and hygiene. The European Union for instance, recently added new items to its import watch-list to a new high of 2,435 items, includes toys, textiles, mobile phones, battery chargers, products for babies and young children, lamps and other accessories. (TNA)