Bangkok--14 Jun--Market-Comms
The Department of Export Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, will organize the 2nd Thailand’s Best Friends or TBF 2010 in June to reinforce the Project’s success in the previous year, focusing on CRM for over 150 international partners from around the world during their visit to Thailand to closely experience Thai products and services. This strategy will also create closer relationship with Thai exporters. According to plan, these partners will be warmly welcomed as VIPs who receive certificates from the prime minister. This event is expected to bring back foreign investors’ confidence, restore Thai economy after a severe hit by political turmoil, and help the export volume grow as targeted.
Mrs. Porntiva Nakasai, Minister of Commerce, revealed, “From the recent political unrest, Thai economy decelerated in the second quarter, which is between April and June 2010, due to foreign investors’ uncertainty in Thailand. Furthermore, the volcano eruption in Europe caused flights to stop their service, hindering the export of agricultural produce like fresh fruit and vegetable as well as electronic components that are dependent on air transportation. To minimize the loss, the Ministry has provided distribution channels for fresh domestic fruit and vegetable. It puts the best effort to develop new strategies in order to maintain existing customer base and increase export opportunities. One strategy is CRM in Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 Project or TBF 2010, which is expected to restore international investors’ confidence. Additionally, this event will help expand Thai export’s gross growth rate as targeted, which is 14% or approximately 0.173 trillion US dollar this year, calculated from the average exchange rate of Thai currency at 32 baht/US dollar, while Thai export figures during the first four months of 2010 have increased by 32.4% or value of 58.4716 billion dollar.
“There are several facilitating factors for the export expansion during the first four months. Firstly, global market demand is rising in line with the revival of major economy and export, especially U.S.A., Japan and Asian countries, such as China, India, East Asia and ASEAN. Secondly, stock of overseas importers has declined; therefore, they start to repurchase, both agricultural and industrial products. Lastly, the achievement from the Free Trade Agreement with many countries causes the export to soar, especially in China, India and ASEAN, including the successful measure of government and private sectors for export drive has always been executed,” revealing Minister of Commerce.
Mrs. Srirat Rastapana, Director-General of the Department of Export Promotion, in adding the details of major export markets during the first four months, said, “Regarding major markets, the export has been expanding with 34.6% grow rate in every market, especially ASEAN that increases by 64.6%. Moreover, the rate of Japan, U.S.A. and E.U. increases by 25.5%, 20.3% and 20.1% respectively. Furthermore, Thai products and services found new markets that grab our attention. From January to April 2010, the export volume in new markets as well as in all markets has been rising. New markets with over 20% export volume are China, Indochina and Burma, Hong Kong, Australia, Latin America, India, South Korea, Eastern Europe and Taiwan. New markets with under 20% export volume are Middle East, Africa and Canada.”
Furthermore, Mrs. Srirat made a comparison between Thailand’s and competing countries’ expanding export rate in 2010. She said the growth rate of Thai export tended to get ahead of the competitors. In this April, Thai export market expanded more than the ones in China, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam while it was behind Taiwan only. Organizing Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 or TBF 2010 is expected to monthly improve Thai export rate in 2010 and Thailand will always stay ahead of competing countries.
Mr. Anurat Khowkhasai, Advisor to the Minister of Commerce, said, “Regarding Thailand’s Best Friends Project in last year, Ministry of Commerce invited over 50 key partners to attend the project for the first time and it was very well received. This year, the Ministry invited over 150 leading partner companies from abroad and it is expected to be enthusiastically responded as planned. This can assure other partners worldwide of their business conduct with Thailand while emphasizing the country’s potential in and effectiveness of import and export. Thailand’s Best Friends or TBF is the government’s first attempt to regain the confidence from international countries after the political crisis. This can stimulate not only economy, but also tourism.
From the success in the past year, Ministry of Commerce has developed new benefits for VIP partners who will travel to attend Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 (TBF) between June 29 and July 2, 2010. This time, when dominant importers from abroad receive a warm welcome and certificate from H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejajiva, Prime Minister, they will feel proud to order Thai products and develop stronger bond with Thailand, leading to their loyalty and constant order for Thai products, not competitors’. Ministry of Commerce has also created a new communication channel via website of www.thailandbestfriend.com to maintain a good trading relationship between purchasers and overseas importers in government and private sectors and unite both existing and new customers. This certainly smoothen the trade negotiations to accomplish the goal. It also enhances the partners’ benefits via TBF CARD, first-class privilege card with exclusive promotion, offering special services as below:
Together with Airports of Thailand and Suvarnabhumi Airport, the card offers the privilege of Fast Track to cardholders who inform the official in advance in order to enter the immigration process at VVIP level when travel to Thailand, without wasting the time standing in line.
Cardholders receive special discounts from luxury hotels and resorts, popular restaurants, spas, five-star fitness clubs, leading golf courses, hospitals and shops in leading shopping centers.
Ministry of Commerce provides hotline service at tel. 1169 for all emergency and non-emergency cases to make the cardholders feel secured throughout their trip and stay in Thailand, just like being assisted by personal secretary every time they visit the country.
Ministry of Commerce presents a warm welcome in all trips to Thailand. Cardholders will be impressed by Thai culture and unique way of life, herewith trust in Thai economics and investment.
In consideration of participating partners’ qualification, Mr. Anurat further explained that Ministry of Commerce has selected top three exporters in each product category in 2009, covering fishery/livestock, agriculture, lifestyle, fashion, heavy industry and service. Each selected exporter proposed their top five clients to gain benefits from Thailand’s Best Friend (TBF) Project. These benefits, lasting for two years, were offered exclusively for privileged partners. The invitation letters were sent to these selected people to officially visit Thailand and receive certificates as VIP partners from H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister. In further attempt to make an impression on them, the Ministry will take this group to visit different industries and a field trip to Thailand’s major tourist spots as VIP guests.
Eminent exporters of Thai products and services who attend Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 or TBF 2010 expressed their different views about it in the seminar of “Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 To Drive the Export and Secure Thailand’s Economy” as below:
Mrs. Attapan Masrungson, Representative of Thai Union Frozen Products Plc., said, “This is the first time the Company joins TBF 2010. It is also the first event organized by the government after the recent crisis, aiming to stimulate foreigners’ confidence that the situation in Thailand is back to normal. When the Ministry of Commerce invited international partners to attend this event, they will feel proud as the country’s important partners. Additionally, it can emphasize that normality has returned to Thailand. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) plays a crucial part since cordial relationship with partners will facilitate the export to every market, especially Japan. This is because the Japanese value honor and respect. If Thailand conducts the business by honoring them and treating them with respect, they will be proud and pleased to continually deal with the Thai people.”
Ms. Kornkamol Pasukdee, Manager of Nidec Machinery (Thailand) Co., Ltd., revealed, “Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 is a surprise for Thailand’s foreign partners. They are thrilled to visit our country and have been calling us to seek advice on what to wear and prepare. I believe they are very proud to receive this honor. When these partners come to Thailand, their intention is not only to travel or party, but also to develop the business with Thailand. When arrive Thailand, they will realize what are offered in this country. Even though they did not place an order themselves, they will go back to their countries and talk to their business associates that Thailand has fascinating products, such as OTOP products of each community. I think TBF 2010 will be another channel for idea exchange and will lead to new business negotiations. For Nidec Machinery (Thailand) Co., Ltd., we expect new business negotiations as well.”
Mr. Wallop Pichpongsa, Deputy Managing Director of Capital Rice Co., Ltd., said, “In my view, Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 will create good relationship between foreign customers and Thailand in the long run. The export volume may not rise instantly but international customers will feel that Thailand gives them honor. Having an opportunity to meet government agencies, they will feel proud and see that Thailand honors them, not only as business partners but also friends. This will lead to their constant order and support for Thai products. Ultimately, they will become long-term VIP partners. Most importantly, this event will re-establish foreign investors’ confidence and the country’s positive image after the political unrest.”
Dr. Manoonsri Chotitawan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saha Farms Co.,Ltd said, “in the past, our marketing depended on itself but today we get a great support from Ministry of Commerce in the Thailand’s Best Friends project which gives the certificate with warm welcome from the government. The importers will get the unforgettable memories about Thailand. After the turmoil crisis, the clients are not willing to come to Thailand but we keep continuous making contact to them and if the government didn’t launch this project, we may loss the clients and sale volume. I would like to thank a wise project from Ministry of Commerce in charge of Mrs. Porntiva Nakasai, Minister of Commerce. As well, I hope this projects still be held as last long. Finally I wish you and team become a success in life and work.
Lastly, Mrs. Porntiva expressed the expected outcomes of Thailand’s Best Friends 2010. She said, “It will promote amicable trading relationship between importers and exporters of Thai products while enhancing an opportunity to export Thai products and services to existing clientele or new potential clients, namely ASEAN, Japan, U.S.A. and E.U. as well as new clients with high purchasing power like Indochina and Burma, Hong Kong, Australia, Latin America, India, South Korea, Eastern Europe and Taiwan. Moreover, this event will increase export volume and create positive image of Thailand. With strong confidence, she forecasted that the goal of export this year remains at 14% or value of 0.173 trillion US dollar. Especially when the export figures in the first four months of 2010 are disclosed, they are significantly high in every product category. For instance, the export in major agriculture /agricultural industry grows in every product list in terms of volume and value, especially rubber, cassava, sugar as well as frozen, canned and processed food, such as frozen and processed shrimp, fruit and vegetable, frozen chicken and other processed food. For major industrial products, the export has also improved in almost every list. Products with over 20% export volume are electronic components, electric appliances, vehicles, construction materials, plastic beads and products, rubber products, publication, cosmetics, lens, furniture and gemstones, excluding gold. As a consequence, despite the political calamity in Thailand in past April and May, it is expected to rapidly regain confidences international countries. TBF 2010 would therefore be another event that serves the duty well.”
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