The Commerce Ministry has vowed to spend 96 million baht next year to help develop startups and raise Thai brand awareness in the world market.
According to Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, the ministry is committed to moving ahead with plans to promote Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups.
"The Commerce Ministry is introducing MOC 4i: Thai Brand Heroes Programme, aimed at shoving and promoting Thai SMEs and startups to become smart enterprises, which embrace new business models that combine innovation, creativity and technology," Mrs Apiradi said.
"The programme will be jointly handled by the Business Development Department, the International Trade Promotion Department and the Intellectual Property Department."
According to Mrs Apiradi, the ministry will engage on four levels, from creating inspiration, to motivating entrepreneurs to start businesses, expanding markets by using demand-driven approaches, to branding strategies, customisation and internalisation.
The programme aims to promote and support about 2,000 SMEs and startups, focused mainly on four industry clusters: food and agriculture, health and wellness, hospitality, and services and lifestyle.
Mrs Apiradi said the Commerce Ministry is also committed to proactively strengthening the local economy.
As part of its strategy, the ministry is conducting a feasibility study to set up regional commerce units to help tackle the difficulties faced by farmers in each region.
For next year, the Commerce Ministry plans to promote connectivity between farmers and markets, and encourage farmers to be more technologically intensive.
Under its 20-year plan, the Commerce Ministry recently announced the promotion and development of trade in services, with a focus on wellness, health and beauty, digital content, construction, logistics and franchises, as well as SMEs and startups.
The ministry's export promotion and commerce strategy will be in tandem with the government's 20-year national strategy blueprint.
The immediate aim of the strategy is to extricate the country from the middle-income trap, eradicate poverty, boost economic strength and stability, promote national security and restore natural resources.
The ministry has also committed to step up the expansion of community markets and develop trading villages and farm outlets that will function as the new distribution channels for farmers.
It also plans to rev up the promotion of innovative agricultural products, starting with rice.