Bangkok--6 Mar--P.Approach Department of Export Promotion now accepts applications for Prime Minister’s Export Award 2008 and announces new award category of ‘Design Excellence Award’ created to boost esthetic edge of Thai exporters Thailand’s Department of Export Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Prime Minister’s Export Award 2008 — the annual prestigious awards for Thailand’s outstanding exporters and service providers who can strive in the world’s fierce competition with their excellent products and services. The awards, for which applications can be submitted from March until May this year, have played significant roles in boosting Thailand’s exports into the world, especially in materializing the country’s exports targets of 12% growth set by the Ministry of Commerce. The Prime Minister’s Export Award or PM Award is the highest award bestowed to Thai exporters and service providers by the Thai Government. This award aims to promote credibility of Thai export products and encourage Thai exporters in the development schemes of their products’ designs and qualities which should be on par and strive in the strong competitions of the world’s market and should eventually benefit the country’s overall economy. Mr. Rachane Potjanasuntorn, Director-General of Department of Export Promotion, reveals that “The PM Award has been ongoing for 17 years and this year the department plans to hand out five awards including 1. Best Exporter, 2. Thai-Owned Brand, 3. Design Excellence Award, formerly known as Thai-Owned Design award, which includes Industrial Crafts and Industrial Products categories, to fit better in today’s situations, 4. Best Service Provider and 5. OTOP Export Recognition. The Department of Export Promotion with a strong support from Japan External Trade Organization or JETRO has in 2008 changed the former ‘Thai-Owned Design’ award to ‘Design Excellence Award’ of which the winner will be selected by a joint committee including experts from Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JIDPO) who will dispatch their design experts to join in the search for Thai products with excellent designs and consider the suitable prizing package for the winner. This attempt is not only to strengthen Thai exporters to serve better the changing market needs for practical products but also to complete the Thai products with beautiful designs that significantly increase extra values to the goods as well.” Winners of the awards will enjoy many privileges from the Department such as special treatments at the Department’s seminar enrollments and exposures in series of publications and media, including the PM Award Directory, newsletters for exporters and many local and international presses. Also, winners will be strongly promoted to conduct business with the Department’s Internationalization scheme that includes the brand development program for the global market. The Director General also explains that “Despite the slowdown of the global economy, we are quite confident that the exports from Thailand should reach the target in 2008. We have prepared many supporting activities that should help our exporters to compete such as the Ministry of Commerce’s assignments to its global branches to support exporters with important economic and business figures of the targeted countries. Also, we plan to tap into new emerging markets that have strong growth potentials such as China, India, Russia, the Middle east, Latin America and Africa.” “The winners of all awards will be announced in August 2008 and the award ceremony will be presided over by the Prime Minister at the Santi Maitri Building, the Government House as a way to honour and morally support our exporters who produce excellent products and services that help driving the Thai exports and economy as a whole with their excellent products, services and designs in the markets around the world,” says Mr. Rachane. The PM Award has been ongoing for 17 years since 1992 with over 230 winning exporters or 298 awards handed out. This campaign helps supporting and developing Thai exporters with the globally-recognized awards which in turn boosts their operations and performances that strengthen their businesses. Interested exporters who want to apply for the awards can download the applications and details from www.depthai.go.th . For more information, call T: 02-511-5066-77 from now until 2nd May 2008.