Issue04 : 26 May 2014

Ranked the seventh largest producer of organic products in Asia, the DITP is aiming to increase Thailand’s share of the global organic market. The Kingdom’s main organic produce is milk, pork, cereals and fresh vegetables and fruit, while Thai herbs and spices – aloes, gingers, kaffir limes – are popular in Europe.

Germany is currently the largest consumer of organic products in the EU. The German market is estimated at around US$9 billion a year. The DITP is urging Thai entrepreneurs to develop new products with German companies in order to pass EU qualification standards more easily and to prepare for the US market.

Issue04 : 26 May 2014

The Factorynetwork Business Conference Bangkok 2014 (FBC Bangkok 2014) will be held at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) this June. FBC Bangkok 2014 will be the first official business matching meeting and conference event hosted by Factory Network ASIA (Thailand).

Manufacturing companies, suppliers, customers and business partners are invited to attend the event which will see 160 medium-sized and small-sized Japanese manufacturing companies exhibiting their products and services.

FBC Bangkok 2014 is from June 20 to 21, 2014 at 2/F BITEC from 10.30am to 5.30pm. For more information, contact Factory Network Asia (+662-274-0357-9) or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Issue04 : 26 May 2014

THAIFEX – World of Food Asia – celebrated its tenth anniversary with the largest show to date. More than 1,400 exhibitors were present from 40 countries. Over the last ten years, THAIFEX has grown steadily with a stronger line-up of international exhibitors.

The 2014 edition demonstrated solid international growth, with a 40 per cent increase of exhibition space in the Fine Food segment and international participation from Brazil, Cambodia, China, Europe, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam, and USA. This year, Japan became the second partner country for THAIFEX, with more than 70 exhibitors on showcase – 50 of which were in the Japan Pavilion led by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

“THAIFEX was held from May 21 to 25 at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre, Bangkok. Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, the director general of the DITP was due to be present to witness two Memorandum of Understanding. The first one is among the DITP, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University and Ferrandi Cooking Institution while the second one is between the DITP, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University and Thai Education & Culture Centre (ThaiTEC) of Japan.

Issue04 : 26 May 2014

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, the director general of the DITP, reported an anticipated 10 per cent growth in automobile and auto-part exports for the first quarter of 2014. Thailand targets production of 2.4 million automobiles in 2014, split evenly between exports and local distribution. It also hopes to export more auto-parts this year, despite currency fluctuations.

“The depreciation of the baht increases the cost of production because wage levels in Thailand are higher than other countries, though Thailand has efficient truck and eco-car production sectors,” said Sakuntanaga.

Thailand will support automobile and auto-part manufactures by holding DITP Expo events, initiating SME Pro-active projects, supporting more research and implementing a Supply Chain Management strategy.

Issue04 : 26 May 2014

Over 60 commercial attachés from around the world, 30 governmental and private institutions including the Thai Chamber of Commerce, The Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Bankers’ Association and Thai National Shippers’ Council joined the DITP to agree commercial trade plans for 2014 and to determine the overall budget for 2015 from May 19 to 20.

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, the director general of the DITP, said the department would support Thai SME business overseas, Thai exporters and those companies seeking to penetrate specific market segments such as the elderly, tourism and innovation, through hosting more Thai Week events and art exhibitions with Thai participants.

DITP anticipates that the second half of 2014 will see growth in Thailand’s exports and business with ASEAN countries.

Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, the director general of the DITP, cooperated with more than 20 public and private companies to organise a seminar on border trade in preparation for the AEC in 2015.

Border trade constitutes a quarter of all Thailand’s export trade value and is expected to increase as the ASEAN region develops as a production base.

The seminar will last for four days starting from June 5 aiming to provide advice for entrepreneurs in the food, lifestyle, furniture, heavy industry and clothing sectors.

“The government stands by to support and cooperate to ensure entrepreneurs are well-equipped with knowledge of border trade procedures,” said Sakuntanaga. “Thais in all sectors need to learn and be adaptive in order to compete in the AEC and global market.”