Issue 58

The DITP held the Thailand Innovation and Design Expo 2016 (T.I.D.E. 2016) from September 15 to 18 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok.

The event featured various zones including the Innovation Showcase presenting more than 300 environmental-friendly innovations and designs, the Innovation Highlights showcasing innovations from Thailand’s leading public and private organisations, and the Design Zone showing the best creative designs from Thai and foreign designers.

“Exports of Thai innovative products and designs have increased continually because Thailand is one the world’s major production bases. We aim to push Thailand to be the centre of innovative products and designs in the ASEAN region,” said DITP Deputy Director-General Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat.

Issue 58

The Ministry of Commerce launched Thaitrade.com Small Order OK (Thailand.com SOOK) on August 29 to help small businesses reach the e-marketplace.

“The project will help SMEs to trade online and enhance their competitiveness as they can sell products to other countries,” Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said. “It also serves the needs of buyers worldwide who want to buy quality Thai products. They can order a small quantity of products for product testing before making larger orders later on.”

To register for this service, please visit www.thaitrade.com or call DITP call centre 1169.

Issue 58

DITP Director-General Malee Choklumlerd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Bank) President Pisit Serewiwattana to form a cooperation between the two parties to develop and support Thai SMEs to operate businesses overseas.

Under this cooperation, EXIM Bank offers several privileges to entrepreneurs awarded the Prime Minister’s Export Award (PM Award) as well as educating them about export procedures, fund sourcing and outward investment.

Issue 58

The DITP and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) hosted a workshop and conference on Capacity Building for Thai Entrepreneurs in Hotel Management and Related Hospitality Services from September 5 to 6 at the Dusit Thani Hotel to promote Thai hospitality to businesspeople from Japan and ASEAN countries.

“The service sector contributed about 51.9% of the country’s GDP in 2015 and employs 45% of the workforce,” DITP Deputy Director-General Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat said. “Hospitality is one of major services the government is focusing on and it has brought in a lot of revenue to the country.”

The department will support Thai SMEs in this sector to do business in target overseas markets including Japan, the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) countries, China, India and Iran. They are encouraged to tap these markets by providing clustered services such as hotel management, spas, restaurants, franchises, hotel amenities, and the supply of furniture and decorative items.

Issue 58

The Export and Outwards Investment Promotion Working Group under the Public-Private Collaboration Committee has organised several projects to help Thai entrepreneurs explore business opportunities in other countries, Commerce Ministry Apiradi Tantraporn announced on August 26.

“The team implements a ‘Friends Guide Friends’ strategy by which large Thai companies help SMEs to set up business in neighboring countries,” Tantraporn added.

In August, BJC, one of Thailand’s top commercial conglomerates, and the Ministry of Commerce hosted an activity to provide in-depth information about Vietnam’s market to 51 promising SMEs, and organised business matching between Thai entrepreneurs and Vietnamese distributors.

The working group is also considering setting up an AEC Town in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh and the Vietnam-Thai Commercial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City as distribution centres for Thai brands in those countries.

Issue 58

The Ministry of Commerce has advised Thai enterprises to enter the Japanese funeral services sector.

“The Thai Trade Office in Tokyo reported that the country’s ageing population has driven the funeral services industry, and the higher number of deaths has increased the demand for products for services when people die,” DITP Director-General Malee Choklumlerd said on September 2. “Some people also hold funerals for their beloved pets.”

Choklumlerd added that opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs include clothing, shrines, fresh flowers, pet clothing, coffins and souvenirs.

According to the Yano Research Institute, this sector is forecasted to be worth US$17 billion (590 billion baht) this year, an increase of 0.3% on the previous year.