Thai exports likely to grow by 6% in 2018

BANGKOK, January 29 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce has projected that the country's exports should grow by 6 per cent year-on-year on average in 2018. Thai Commerce Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong told journalists of the tentative projection on Monday, after holding a meeting with representatives of the private sector. Sonthirat said Monday's meeting resolved that Thailand's exports should expand by about 6 per cent year-on-year in 2018, totally worth 250 billion US dollars, with goods to mainly boost overall Thai exports including electronic and rubber products, as well as refined oil. The minister revealed that he will assign his ministry's Department of International Trade Promotion to gather updated information to be presented to his upcoming meeting in Bangkok with 58 top Thai commercial envoys stationed worldwide, set on February 19, the result of which will be reported to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees the national economy, for further working out export stimulus measures this year. The minister admitted that the appreciation of the Thai baht remains a main risk factor of the growing Thai exports, with the government to consider proposed solution to the problem to be later raised by the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB). Meanwhile, Sanan Angubonkul, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, noted that the tentative projection of the country's export growth this year was under the condition that the Thai currency should stand at 32 baht a US dollar on average throughout the year. (TNA)