The Commerce Ministry vows to continue developing local economies by raising farm prices and revenue for small-scale enterprises in the months leading up to the general election.
Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said yesterday that the ministry has worked to tackle problems stemming from exports, farm prices, income inequality and consumer debt.
"Exports are on course to record strong growth, while farm prices, especially rice and tapioca, hit a 10-year high thanks to government measures to handle existing stocks, find new markets and promote value-added production," said Mr Sontirat, who was promoted from deputy commerce minister in last November's cabinet reshuffle.
Thailand's exports expanded for a 14th straight month in April, led by stronger shipments of cars and parts, computers and accessories, plastic pellets, finished oil, rice, tapioca products, frozen and processed chicken, and fresh, canned and processed fruits and vegetables.
The ministry last month reported that customs-cleared outbound shipments rose by 12.3% year-on-year in April to US$18.9 billion (607 billion baht) after a 7.1% jump in March.
In the first quarter, Thailand's exports rose by 11.5%, the highest rate in seven years, to $81.8 billion. The ministry expects export growth of 8% this year, along with an uptick in rice shipments because of higher demand and lower global supply.
The ministry last month raised its rice export target for 2018 to 10 million tonnes, up from 9.5 million tonnes.
Last year, Thailand exported a record 11.6 million tonnes of milled rice, up 17.4% year-on-year, fetching 174.5 billion baht, up 12.8%.
Mr Sontirat said the ministry is also committed to promoting Thaitrade.com, the country's national e-marketplace, to increase trade volume by linking exporters to global e-markets.
The ministry aims to double Thaitrade.com's trade volume to 10 billion baht next year. Thaitrade.com was set up seven years ago and now features more than 250,000 products, having attracted 2.15 million foreign visitors.
In 2016, the ministry launched Thaitrade.com Sook, a business-to-consumer extension of Thaitrade.com. Some 25,000 entrepreneurs use Thaitrade.com, and the ministry aims to attract 100,000 entrepreneurs to use the national e-commerce platform to increase exports.
