Bangkok--20 May--DEP
The Ministry of Commerce has assigned the Department of Export Promotion to implement an E-Marketplace project through the revised www.thaitrade.com website, scheduled for operation this July. A team of expert and experience advisers is being set up to provide online consulting free of charge, beginning with the process of product selection, information input in English, how to present appropriate photographs for active business in the E-Marketplace, and actual transactions. The department expects over 60,000 product items to join the E-Marketplace before the end of this year.
Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, The Department 0f Export Promotion’s Director-General disclosed during the press conference announcing the project “www.thaitrade.com: Thailand B2B E-Marketplace (Business to Business)”, saying the Internet had obviously become an increasingly popular medium of business transactions around the world. Websites were used as marketplace to trade products at both domestic and international levels, giving birth to a new terminology - E-Marketplace. “For several years, transactions via online E-Marketplace have been worth billions of dollars. Internet transactions will continue to grow strong as the modern society is fully embracing the online lifestyles, taking into consideration the low-cost advantages and convenience in terms of 24-hour communications,” she explained.
The Ministry of Commerce, as the agency responsible in monitoring and implementing policies regarding Thailand’s international trade development, realizes the vast benefits of Business to Business (B2B) online activities and how they can help promote the business for local exporters in the international arena. “This provides a great opportunity for our local exporters to slingshot into the international trade scenes in a short cut. The Department of Export Promotion therefore has been empowered to play an important role in shaping this E-Marketplace project using the original www.thaitrade.com website to accommodate e-commerce activities in the B2B format starting July 2011,” she added.
The Department 0f Export Promotion’s Director-General, also disclosed that the popularity of e-commerce in Thailand had significantly increased. Several leading international corporations were now conducting business through the online channel. “The Internet technology allows business parties to easily conduct a 2-way communication regardless of where they are in the world. www.thaitrade.com website is designed and developed as the E-Marketplace for vendors and buyers around the world with advanced mobile device capability in the near future to allow transactions to be conducted via mobile equipment. The department intends for the website to be a one-stop service for exporters with high capabilities in connecting with international buyers, linking up to the warehouse system, providingautomatic vendor alert and interfacing with the e-procurement system in the near future,” she explained.
www.thaitrade.comwebsiteis an important tool in upgrading the potentiality and capability of local business operators in so many ways. It offers new possibilities in export as buyers can check out the product initially through images posted on the website. Being operated by the Department of Export Promotion, www.thaitrade.com website commands excellent image for international recognition. Experienced personnel are assigned to provide valuable advice and useful information to the operators, along with a team of experts to help coordinate and facilitate the sales in the beginning stages. These helps include language and marketing supports to make local online vendors feel confident and later engage in the business on their own.
The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) can help enhance greater chances for Thai exporters in terms of customer access through the following advantages: 1. DEP offices in over 65 countries around the world; 2. extensive experiences in domestic and overseas product exhibitions especially in the area of offline business matching.
“Promoting www.thaitrade.com website itself will be done using other leading online media to make it known around the globe for what it is as fast as possible. This means being part of the website simply gives you access to massive purchasing power around the clock,” she added.
“After signing up as member of the website and being accepted by the selection committee, information of such exporter will appear on the website as database for the E-Marketplace. Members can offer products or services on the website without any fee. Password will be given to allow members to seek out names and details of target customers. Application is welcome online. Exporters will be supported by a team of consultants and load of valuable information such as market analysis by experts in E-Newsletter and workshop seminar to prepare exporters for the world of online transactions. Everything is provided free of charge once you have become a member of www.thaitrade.com ,” she said.
As part of the plan to broaden the horizon for local exporters and create better understanding in E-Marketplace, a seminar entitled “Enter the World E-Marketplace” will be held on Wednesday 1 July 2011 from 1.30 pm — 4.30 pm at the Grand Ballroom of The Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel (former Radisson Hotel on Rama 9 Road). The seminar is hoped to open the mind for Thai exporters on how to widen sales opportunities and generate new channels of profitability using the cyber tools with thorough understanding of E-Marketplace. Experts will take turn to provide fresh perspective and experience in online trading. Designated speakers include Assoc. Prof. Vitwat Rungruengpol of the Faculty of Accounting and Commerce, Thammasat University, who is the expert in SME marketing; Worawoot Ounjai, Board of Advisors of Thailand E-Commerce Association and Managing Director of Officemate Public Company Limited; Sansern Samaisud, one of the founders of www.weloveshopping.com and Senior Manager for Product at True Corporation Public Company Limited; and Jirayu Wiriyapibul, Gold Member of world-class E-Marketplace website www.alibaba.com and executive at Exportcity Manufacturing Co., Ltd, producing handicraft flowers and over 2,000 types of ornaments made from orchids. The seminar is free of charge and interested parties can call 02-5309790 or DEP Call Center 1169 or mobile number at 089-8937138 or check out www.registerthaitrade.com or e-mail to
[email protected] for more information.
“The Ministry of Commerce has targeted to make www.thaitrade.com a world-class E-Marketplace for over 2 million Thai SMEs. Within the end of 2011, the number of members should include at least 3,000 operators with over 60,000 product items. The number of registered buyers should be over 5,000 names. The website will be clearly promoted as an E-Marketplace for Business to Business transactions,” The Department 0f Export Promotion’s Director-General concluded.
For more information please contact:
“Thaitade.com” Project PR Consultant
Yupa , Jidapa