Thai SMEs to be promoted overseas

BANGKOK, February 11 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Commerce, has assigned Thailand's trade offices worldwide to promote Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the global arena. Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol acknowledged that the value of trade generated by Thai SMEs has risen to as high as 20 per cent of the total value of Thai exports annually, showing that Thai SMEs have potential to grow further. Poom assessed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as ASEAN-plus-three should serve as emerging opportunities for the Thai SMEs and Thailand's trade offices overseas should, therefore, promote the Thai SMEs and their products. According to the deputy commerce minister, if Thai agencies work together, Thailand should be able to meet targeted export growth of 15 per cent this year, despite the global economic downturn, caused by impacts of the ongoing European debt crisis. (TNA)