Bangkok--14 Nov--EXIM BANK
EXIM Thailand meets its operational targets for the first nine months of 2006 while actively fostering cooperation with related public and private agencies both at home and abroad to promote Thailand’s foreign trade and investment opportunity as well as competitiveness.
Dr. Apichai Boontherawara, President of Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM Thailand), said that EXIM Thailand’s operating results have been satisfactory for the first 9 months of 2006, achieving its goals of supporting Thai export and overseas investment expansion, SME exporter development and economic cooperation with neighboring countries for trade and investment promotion in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). During January-September 2006, EXIM Thailand approved new credits and export credit insurance policies in the total amount of 17,405 million baht or 78% of its 2006 operational target. The Bank also performed risk assessments on 450 foreign buyers and L/C opening banks under EXIM Thailand’s 2006 special program to help Thai exporters penetrate markets in new destinations and FTA countries.
To enhance and strengthen Thai exporters’ competitiveness in the global arena, EXIM Thailand, in collaboration with related public and private agencies including Department of Export Promotion, Department of Business Development and Thai Intertrader Association, has arranged activities and seminars aimed at nurturing Thai exporters’ professionalism and international business management skills attended by 5,268 participants during the first nine months of 2006.
Further, EXIM Thailand has taken a proactive stance in bolstering the capacity of Thai investors and service providers overseas. From January to September 2006, the Bank approved new credits and guarantees totaling 3,742 million baht for Thai investors in 14 countries, constituting 62% of its 2006 operational target.
EXIM Thailand President added that the Bank also focused on economic cooperation with neighboring countries to promote trade and investment development in the GMS in the long run. On November 21, 2006, EXIM Thailand will host a welcome reception to honor Cambodian delegation led by Mr. Cham Prasidh, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce, who is scheduled to meet with his Thai counterpart, Mr. Krirk-krai Jirapaet during the Thai-Cambodian Investment Cooperation Roadshow at Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok. Thai investors will be invited to take part in the Roadshow and explore investment opportunities with the Cambodian delegates, particularly in the Poipet Special Economic Zone which is planned to be established in the near future. In this connection, EXIM Thailand’s support includes consulting services on project funding and investment promotion among high-potential Thai business enterprises interested in relocating into the Special Economic Zone. Moreover, EXIM Thailand will render support to the National Bank of Cambodia in the form of information service, technical assistance and personnel training which will complement the NBC’s effort to set up a trade and industrial development bank or an export-import bank in the future. In August 2006, EXIM Thailand, in cooperation with Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (Public Organization) (NEDA), provided a 1.3-billion-baht loan for the Highway Route No. 67 Development Project between Anlong Veng and Siem Reap in Cambodia.
In the first nine months of this year, EXIM Thailand registered a net profit of 337 million baht. The Bank’s total assets as of the end of September 2006 stood at 69,378 million baht while the loans and accrued interest receivables as of September 2006 amounted to 58,828 million baht.
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