The Thai Ministry of Commerce has taken urgent measures to address the challenges faced by the private sector in exporting goods to China, with a view to expanding Thai product shipments to the world’s second-largest economy by at least 1%. The ministry recently convened a meeting in Kunming, Yunnan Province, with representatives from seven foreign trade offices and several prominent Thai private sector companies.
The meeting aimed to plan market expansion and investment opportunities in China, with a target of exporting Thai products worth no less than US$34 billion or generating revenue of over 1.2 trillion baht. The commerce ministry instructed its commercial attaches to increase the promotion of Thai goods through modern trade platforms, expand the market and promote Thai cuisine. The private sector was also urged to take advantage of increasing opportunities in Chinese markets, such as trade fairs.
The ministry emphasized its strategy of supporting the private sector to overcome trade obstacles in mainland China, especially during the upcoming harvest season for fruit products, and urged the private sector to prepare for potential issues that could arise at border checkpoints. Moreover, activities will be implemented to penetrate the halal product market in China, building on the success of the three limited free trade agreements (mini FTAs) established by Thailand in major Chinese cities such as Guangzhou and Chengdu.
