Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai on Thursday said she still hopes this year's export growth would be between zero and three per cent albeit many agencies forecast that it would face a negative growth.
The Ministry of Commerce would not lose face even if exports may fall because the ministry will continue working to its potential and will not be discouraged, according to Mrs Pornthiva.
If the government adjusts some regulations and facilitates traders, the export figures should grow as initially projected, the minister said, adding that Thai commerce officials stationed overseas were assigned to conduct in-depth marketing reports and monitor foreign markets closely.
She said there are still new markets for Thai products to explore after imports in the United States plunged because of the economic crisis.
Besides the US and Chinese markets, Thai exporters can still penetrate other markets in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), she said.
Thailand gained US$4.7 billion worth of export orders from the CIS region in 2008, 81 per cent higher than its previous year.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
