Over 1,100 businessmen ask for AEC information during Q1

BANGKOK, May 24 (TNA) - As the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is scheduled to kick off this December, more than 1,100 businessmen in ASEAN have shown interests and sought business information during the first quarter of this year, said Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of Commerce Ministry’s International Trade Promotion Department. Mrs.Nuntawan said the ministry had received reports from nine trade and business development centres for the AEC in eight ASEAN countries, excluding Brunei, showing that business entrepreneurs had displayed interests for ASEAN markets. A total of 1,111 business operators had sought for in-depth information from the ministry officials at overseas offices and its headquarters in Nonthaburi during the first quarter this year, she said. Of the total business operators seeking for more business information, the trade and business development centre in the Laotian capital of Vientiane was busiest during the period as 226 businessmen sought more information followed by 219 at Ho Chi Minh City office, said Mrs. Nuntawan. The department plans to organise several business activities, including workshops during the third and fourth quarters this year, she said, adding that her department would also organise ‘Thailand Week’, in which Thai businessmen would have an opportunity to display their goods in ASEAN member countries. (TNA)