Commerce Ministry to focus on products by grassroots

BANGKOK, Jan 13 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry will focus more on grassroots, control inflation, boost exports and to establish more Blue Flag discount stores in 2018 to stimulate national economy, said Minister Sonthirat Sontijirawong. The government attaches importance on economy at the grassroot level by trying to raise prices of agricultural products and urging agriculturists to try to add value of their produce, said Mr Sonthirat. On the attempt to control inflation, he said law will be applied to ensure that merchandise prices move at the appropriate level while another 20,000 Blue Flag discount stores will be set up within this March, bringing total stores to 40,000. Blue Flag stores, supervised by the Ministry, offer products whose prices are cheaper than the market price. Micro SMEs and start up businesses will be encouraged to manufacture innovative products so that they will be able to export their products, said Mr Sonthirat. The target for exports for 2018 will be evaluated again by concerned agencies in February, he said, adding that the Commerce Ministry will penetrate more on potential markets including China and India. (TNA)