Government promotes over 230 Thai brands in AEC

BANGKOK, February 2 (TNA) - The government, through the Ministry of Commerce, is promoting 236 brands of Thai exporting products in neighboring countries in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee (สุวิทย์ เมษินทรีย์) told journalists that he is leading a Thai delegation to first visit Cambodia during February 2-4 to promote the 236 brands of Thai products and discuss bilateral business expansion. Suvit said that the promotion will happen in the TOP Thai Brands Fair, set to be held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, during February 3-7, and the top Thai products include those winning the PM Awards, Thailand Trust Mark, DEMark and the Thai Select certification. Besides, other Thai brands of leading business operators include Srithai (ศรีไทย) Superware, Betagro, Thai Beverage, Mitr Phol (มิตรผล), Boonrawd (บุญรอด) Trading, Siam Cement Group (SCG), CP, Sahapat (สหพัฒน์ฯ) , Bangkok Hospital and Bangpakok (บางปะกอก) Hospital. Suvit expressed his hope that the five-day fair in Phnom Penh will generate trade value, worth more than 300 million baht, while his delegation will also discuss trade balance with Cambodian authorities. According to the deputy commerce minister, Thailand posted a trade surplus of 4.9 billion US dollars with Cambodia last year and both countries have agreed to increase the value of their bilateral trade by three times to 15 billion US dollars within five years. The deputy commerce minister elaborated that Thailand imported Cambodian products, worth 639 million US dollars last year, and the Thai Kingdom has, thus, planned to buy more raw materials from Cambodia and to further enhance bilateral cooperation on investment, especially in the service sector. The deputy commerce minister noted that 96 Thai business operators have invested in Cambodia and their businesses concern, among others, the processing of farm products, restaurants and beauty, while the Thai government is also interested in cooperating with Cambodia on tourism promotion and skill labor development. The deputy commerce minister revealed that his ministry also plans to later organize the TOP Thai Brands Fair in Manila, Yangon, Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane respectively. (TNA)