The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (Osmep) will hold a roadshow of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China to capitalise on potential opportunities that its huge population offers.
Osmep chairwoman Salinee Wangtal said the office will take SMEs to the city of Fuzhou, Fujian province, to present their products and services at the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Exposition from May 18-22.
The roadshow will be co-hosted by the Asian International Trade and Investment Association (AITIA), the agency that supports trade and investment collaborations between Thailand and other Asian countries.
After the roadshow, Osmep plans to facilitate business matching to help SMEs find Chinese counterparts, which may lead to joint ventures in the future, she said.
Mrs Salinee said China is the biggest market for Thai SMEs and both countries also have a long history of trade and investment collaboration, so the office wants to collaborate on SMEs as well.
"China has a huge population of around 1.3 billion, which provides a great business opportunity for Thai SMEs, especially in the sector of consumer goods," said Mrs Salinee.
She said the Thai products that have strong potential to grow well in China's vast market are processed food, crafts, jewellery and furniture.
Some tourism-related services such as hotels and spas are also expected to receive a warm welcome from Chinese consumers, she added.
Mrs Salinee said Osmep had brought SMEs, mostly from the processed food, cosmetics and spa sectors, to take part in the recent China Xinjiang New Year Shopping Fair, which had a good response.
Montree Pongpan, vice-president of the AITIA, said the Chinese government is planning to set up distribution centres of Thai products in six or seven major cities in the hope of helping Thai SMEs to increase sales.
He said the first one in Fuzhou is due to open late this year.
Mr Montree is encouraging SMEs in the food sector, which is one of several industries with strong potential, to start exporting to China with the support of Osmep.
"Thailand may have to improve the standard of food products in order to boost confidence among consumers, which would help expand its exports to other countries," he said.