Issue 13^th: 29 Sept 2014

The DITP anticipates an 8% growth in exports of Thai commodities and products to New Zealand in 2015, as trade and investment with the antipodean nationexpands.

Nunthawan Sakuntanaga, the Director General of the DITP, says that the Thai government will support the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (TNZCEP) MOU and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA). It also encourages Thai SMEs to go to New Zealand and collaborate with the Thai government in developing trust and understanding of the quality of Thai products.

The DITP plans to organise 10 Thai Product Expos and Sale Promotion events in New Zealand in 2015, as well as promoting southern Thai cuisine restaurants under the department’s ThaiSELECT brand.

Currently, ASEAN main exports to New Zealand are yachts, animal food, fertilisers, plastic products and liquid rubber. Thailand’s export to New Zealand during January to July 2014 increased by 4.7% compared with the same period in 2013, to US$718 million.It is expected that trade between the nations will double by 2020.

Issue 13^th: 29 Sept 2014

Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Austria attended the sixth MQ Fashion Week in Vienna from September 10 to 14.

The princess presented some of the masterpiece silk collections from her Royal Projects Kamlangjai collection in the ‘Bangkok Fashion: The Next Generation’ fashion showcase organised by the Office of Commercial Affairs on September 13.

The showcase promoted the potential of Thai silk designers and highlighted 20 Thai Silk designs – 10 from the Royal Projects Kamlangjai and 10 from Thai brands Nagara, Sanchai, Hook’s, Issue and Flynow, part of the Support Arts and Crafts International Center of Thailand (SACICT).

This year, the DITP also invited four upcoming Thai Designers, Adhoc, Lakwilai, Pattric Boyle and Paul Direk, to join the MQ Vienna Fashion Week 2014.

For more information, please visit http://www.mqviennafashionweek.com/

Issue 13^th: 29 Sept 2014

Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha attended the Prime Minister’s Business Enterprise Award 2014(or PM AWARD 2014) on September 18 at the Queen Sririkit National Convention Centre. He gave awards to 21 winning products and services from Thai entrepreneurs. The Ministry of Commerce aims that the PM Awards will help with Thailand's exports and search for new overseas markets.

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, the Director General of the DITP, says the department will publish the PM Award's Directory 2014 booklets as a tool to promote Thailand's potential entrepreneurs.

For more information, please visit http://www.pmenterpriseaward.com 

Issue 13^th: 29 Sept 2014

The DITP’s roadshow to Japan from September 2 to 3 proved a great success, according to Nunthawan Sakuntanaga, the Director General of the DITP.

Sakuntanaga said that Thai hotels and wedding service businesses are well accepted within
Japan due to their reasonable price, high-quality skills and innovative designs. Twenty four Thai entrepreneurs in the hotel and wedding service business sector joined in a business matching event organised by the DITP during the roadshow meeting 130 Japanese companies, and could sell their service and product valued US$20,000 at the event. It is estimated that the total value of sales in this line of business will be about US$262,000 in one year.

Thai entrepreneurs were also invited by Japanese supplier company World Service to participate in the hotel business expo in Japan, 2015.

Issue 13^th: 29 Sept 2014

The DITP teamed up with Thai entrepreneurs from the auto-parts, food, gems &jewellery, clothes, fabric, fashion products and household furniture industries to attend a road show as well as business matching events in Almaty and Astana, Kazakhstan from September 8 to 12.

The DITP sees potential business opportunities in the nine countries of the CIS, and in particular Kazakhstan as a financial and distribution centre, and petroleum supplier. Thailand imports commodities from the CIS countries valued at US$3,195 million in 2014, and exports commodities such as housewares, canned food, clothes and sportswares to the CIS countries valued at US$896 million from January to July 2014, 4.3% higher than in the same period in 2013.

Issue 13^th: 29 Sept 2014

DITP Director General, Nunthawan Sakuntanaga, explained this month that the current boom in the gem and jewellery business in China is a consequence of the rising middle-class in that country.

“China’s GDP rose 52% in four years (2010-2013) and its domestic production of jewellery in 2014 has increased 31% when compared with 2013. The current jewellery business trend in China is to purchase stylish jewellery as gifts for special occasions or to express one’s well-being. As the number of young middle-class Chinese will hit 500 million in 2020, it can be forecast that gems and jewellery will have a high demand,” said Sakuntanaga.

Thailand ranks fifth in exporting gemstones to China and number one in pearls. Jewellery and gem expositions or trade fairs such as the 54th Bangkok Gems &Jewellery Fair hosted by the DITP and the Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association will help stimulate exports and provide the meet-and-match opportunities for jewellery buyers and supplier.