Thailand to further develop fashion industry

BANGKOK, December 15 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Industry, has decided to allocate a state budget of 50 million baht to further develop the Thai fashion industry in 2016, using innovative technology. Thai Permanent Secretary for Industry Arthit Wuthikaro told journalists of the move on Tuesday, saying that in an attempt to furhther develop the Thai fashion industry for the third consecutive year in 2016, more digital, science and technology, and innovation will be applied to increase the productivity and support logistics management, expected to add value of Thai fashion products by more than 10 per cent. Thai industrial fashions comprise of textiles and garments, leather and shoes, jewellery and ornamental products, which earn the country more than 20 billion US dollars annually, equivalent to 10 per cent of the total export of Thai industrial goods. Some 2.2 million people are also employed in the Thai fashion industry. Meanwhile, Somchai Harnhirun, Director-General of the ministry's Industrial Promotion Department, noted that the earmarked state budget will be spent on creating new fashion designers, developing products for the ASEAN market, improving Thai silk products in its third phase and upgrading Thai textiles in bid to become a leader in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Besides, his department has cooperated with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute in creating industrial fashion designers by organising the "Fashion Designer Creation 2016" contest, in which the winner will receive a prize worth more than 450,000 baht. According to the senior official, applications for the contest will be open until January 31, 2016. (TNA)