Six panels set up to boost Thai exports

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) - The Thai government has set up six committees to boost Thai exports in both short-run and long-run and to cope with the ongoing eurozone debt crisis. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong told journalists that the decision was made at a workshop held in Bangkok Saturday and chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. According to the deputy premier, the newly-set up panels include those charged with monitoring and exploring ways to boost Thai exports to Europe and other potential non-European markets, namely the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and to expedite free trade area (FTA) talks between the European Union (EU) and Thailand. The deputy premier revealed that the other committees have been charged with boosting border trade, penetrating new markets such as South Africa, Chile, Peru and the BRIC group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. Meanwhile, Thai Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom said that the appointement of the six new committees will be complete within two weeks and they will start working immediately. (TNA)