The electrical and electronics industry predicts 2% growth in export value this year as shipments to neighbouring countries surge.
Wisanu Limviboon, chairman of the electrical club at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said shipments to Asean would drive exports this year.
Overall export value is projected to rise by 30 billion baht to 1.73 trillion.
"We've seen opportunities growing, particularly in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, where demand for electricity use has surged in line with increasing infrastructure development," he said.
At present, the US ranks as the top export market, consuming 17% of total exports.
Asean and Japan have an equal share at 12%, while Europe accounts for 14%.
The domestic market for electronic and electrical appliances this year is seen on a par with last year at 500 billion baht, although the sector should recover after consumer confidence and purchasing power rebounded in recent weeks.
Mr Wisanu called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to launch stimulus policies to support the industry's growth.
Those measures could include government procurement of Thai-made goods such as electrical appliances for educational purposes or set-top boxes under the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's digital TV transition.
In addition, the NCPO could also promote the industry by developing a cluster for the electrical and electronics sector, a move that would strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and make larger firms more cost-competitive.
In related news, the industrial confidence index rose for the first time in seven months in May.
Confidence was boosted by easing concerns over the political situation that pressured the index in recent months.
The index rose to 85.1 points last month from 84 in April. The FTI surveyed 1,116 business operators in 42 sectors.
Payments to farmers under the rice-pledging scheme and the NCPO's economic stimulus measures have yielded improved business confidence, said FTI chairman Suphan Mongkulsuthee.
He said the FTI was working with the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG) and the Thai Bankers' Association to provide financial assistance to SMEs.
"Since industrial operators have faced cash flow problems as a result of the political stalemate, we expect cooperation between banks and the TCG to be launched within a month," he said.