Thai exports likely to grow 5% in 2014

BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) - The Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC) is optimistic that the country's exports in 2014 should grow by 5 per cent year-on-year, thanks to the recovering world economy with the global economic growth rate foreseen at 3.7-4 per cent this year. TNSC Chairman Nopporn Thepsitthar told journalists on Wednesday that Thailand would earn more than 22 billion US dollars based on the 5 per cent export growth projection, noting that domestic political protests should not, thus, much affect Thai exports. Several institutes have forecast that the global economy should expand by 3.7–4 per cent this year, while local automobile manufacturers remain confident that Thailand's car exports in 2014 should be over half of the country's total automobile production of about 2.4-2.5 million units. But his deputy, Wallop Vittanakorn, was rather cautious, saying if Thailand’s political problems were prolonged, the projection on the country's exports would be revised. Wallop acknowledged that the TNSC has mapped out nine strategies to handle business risks, including making foreign envoys in Thailand properly understand the domestic political situation. (TNA)