Govt sets measures to boost exports to Australia

BANGKOK, August 4 (TNA) - The Commerce Ministry’s International Trade Promotion Department has laid out seven strategies aimed at boosting exports to Australia, said Srirat Rastapana, Director-General of the department. Surveys have been conducted and found that the behaviour of Australian consumers has changed and most of them are concerned with products which least affected environment and society, said Srirat. The department has, therefore, revised its activity so that it could match with the changing situation. She said the seven strategies include promotion of goods and services which would give value added and are friendly to environment, encouraging producers to reduce costs and build trade logistics networks, and development of personnel and trade information system. Meanwhile, Mom Luang Bhuthong Thongyai, Director of Sydney-based International Trade Promotion Department, said Thailand’s exports to Australia during the first half this year valued at 5.23 billion U.S. dollars, up 24 per cent from the same period last year. He said major goods exported to Australia are automobile and spare parts, iron and steel, plastic resins, air conditioner, canned sea food, and rubber products. Imports from Australia during the same period totaled 2.85 billion U.S. dollars, down 5 per cent from the corresponding period of 2012. Key imported goods are jewellery, crude oil, vegetable and coal. (TNA)