Bangkok--1 Jul--Market-Comms
The Prime Minister presided over Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 or TBF 2010 to present certificates to 150 trade partners from 43 countries worldwide. The Ministry of Commerce, project owner, was satisfied with the outcome when all participating partners expressed their admiration and clearly stated that they would continue their business with Thailand. The project is expected to gain both confidence and orders worth over 66 billion baht, which is good value for the organizing budget.
H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister, presided over the certificate presentation ceremony of Thailand’s Best Friends 2010, held for the second consecutive year, at Santi Maitri Building, Government House. The Ministry of Commerce hosted this event to express the appreciation and honor top five foreign trade partners who has ordered Thai products in 26 categories, namely fishery, agriculture, lifestyle, fashion, heavy industry and service. This year, the Ministry invited over 150 partners from 43 countries around the world, such as Japan, Australia, Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, China and Burma.
The Ministry, as a host, was prepared to give the overseas partners a warm traditional welcome and build their confidence in continuing the business with Thailand. Thailand’s Best Friends 2010, held between June 29 and July 2, will deeply impress these trade partners and stimulate Thai economy. The order is expected to reach over 66 billion baht, causing the total export growth rate to increase as targeted, which is 14% or 0.173 trillion US dollar this year, calculated from the average exchange rate of Thai currency at 32 baht/US dollar.
Mrs. Porntiva Nakasai, Minister of Commerce, revealed, “Organizing Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 is certainly good value for budget due to its extremely favorable outcome. By inviting 150 partners from 43 countries, the Ministry will build their pride and confidence in trading with our country, leading to continuous order for Thai products, not the competitors’. This strategy, taken from private sector as example, is called Customer Relationship Management or CRM, designed to please trade partners. From the Ministry’s expectation, the achievement of this event will be proven by not only the increasing import figures to over 66 billion baht and Thailand’s growth as planned, but also image enhancement for Thailand and the regained confidence of foreign investors. This project was initiated by government sector to ensure the foreigners that Thailand is back to normal and ready to effectively conduct the business."
Thailand’s Best Friends 2010 or TBF 2010 will start on June 29, 2010, and end on July 2, 2010. The summarized details are below:
On June 29, 150 trade partners will arrive Thailand and the Ministry will host a dinner banquet at Millennium Hilton Hotel.
In the morning of June 30, the Ministry will take them on tour to see Thai products. They will be divided into three groups for their choice of interest, namely attending THAIFEX — World of Food ASIA 2010, visiting the Emerald Temple or widely known among foreigners as Wat Phra Kaew, or studying Thai art, culture and history in Rattanakosin Period at Nitat Rattanakosin Buidling on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue.
In the afternoon and evening of June 30, H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister, will present TBF2010 certificate at Santi Maitri Building, Government House, after the dinner.
On July 1, the guests will take a trip to Hua Hin by a special train and spend their time at leisure, such as relaxing with world-renowned Thai spa or riding a horse on the beach, which has been a symbol of Hua Hin for over a century. Afterward, memorable farewell party with exquisite traditional performance will be organized in the evening.
On July 2, 150 partners will safely return to their country.
After Thailand’s Best Friends 2010, Ministry of Commerce has developed 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 smoothens the trade negotiations to accomplish the goal and it is considered a big step for this project.
Lastly, Mrs. Porntiva, in expressing her expectation for Thailand’s Best Friends 2010, said, “It will promote amicable trading relationship between importers and exporters of Thai products while enhancing an opportunity to export high quality Thai products and services to existing clientele or new clients with high purchasing potential, 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. The order gained from this project is expected to reach 66 billion baht. The targeted export growth rate this year remains at 14% or value of 0.173 trillion US dollar although the average rate in the third and fourth quarters tends to expand by only 5 — 10%. Furthermore, positive image of Thailand will be restored, which is considered a good investment and will certainly yield a positive effect f or Thailand in a long term.”