Bangkok--4 Jul--PITON Communications Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Siripol Yodmuangcharoen, reassured that the export of Thailand’s lifestyle products in 2008 will grow by at least 5% as the export value during the first four months of this year has already reached USD 530.70 million, a 12.23 percent increase compared to the same period last year. “We expected that the export of gifts, home decorative and houseware products will grow by at least 5 percents this year. This projection is most likely since the export figure during the first four months of this year has already reached USD 530.70 million, a 12.23 percent increase compared to the same period last year,” said the Ministry of Commerce’s Permanent Secretary. In 2007, the export of products in this sector alone generated a total of USD 1,712.84 million to the country, an 8.05 percent increase from the previous year. Mr. Siripol also said that the ministry has continued to put great effort in fostering Thailand’s exports by several means, including the organization of the renowned trade fairs such as Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG&BIH) that have helped boost business opportunities and networking. “Over the past 10 years, BIG&BIH have gained warm acceptance from international buyers as one of Asia’s most attractive sourcing platforms for the unparalleled selection of lifestyle products. Importantly, as design is the key element to the strength of this industry, the fairs will showcase creative products which are the results of DEP’s products design development programs,” Mr. Siripol added. BIG&BIH are held twice annually in April and October by the Department of Export Promotion, the Ministry of Commerce, with its purpose to create business and export opportunities for local producers and exporters of gifts, premiums, home decorative items, housewares, toys, stationery and office supplies. The next edition of BIG&BIH, which is the 26th time of its kind, will be held on October 14-19, 2008 at the Challenger Hall, IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani. The first four days (October 14-17) are reserved for trade negotiations only, while October 18-19 are opened for the public. The fair organizer, DEP, expects a number of 750 producers and exporters of gifts, premiums, home decorative items, household products, home textiles, toys and novelties, stationery, and office equipment from Thailand and across Asia to participate in BIG&BIH-October 2008, while a number of 17,000 trade visitors are expected to attend, especially those buyers and importers from USA, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and Middle East. The first edition of BIG&BIH 2008, held on April 17-22, attracted a total of 17,762 trade visitors, which is 4.67 percents increased from the same show last year. Among them were 4,130 overseas visitors from 110 countries worldwide. The top ten overseas visiting countries are Japan, U.S.A., Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, U.K., Australia, Korea and Germany respectively. The application for exhibitors at BIG&BIH-October 2008 is now opened until July 31st. For more information, please contact the DEP’s Office of Export Service: phone number +66 (0)512 0093 to 104 ext. 266, 269, 271; e-mail: [email protected] or website: www.bigandbih.com. For more information, contact: Editorial Contact Buranii Chandraparnik, Janya Joycharoen PITON Communications Co., Ltd. Tel: 0-2612-2211; Fax: 0-2612-2319 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]