Nine Asean trade offices on the cards

Nine Asean trade offices on the cards

The Trade Negotiations Department is expected to establish nine trade and investment support offices in Asean countries this year in preparation for the upcoming Asean Economic Community (AEC).

The department is in the process of opening AEC Business Support Centers in the other nine Asean members before market integration at the end of 2015.

The department is confident the support centres will expand exports by at least 10%, said Srirat Rastapana, director-general of the department. Six offices have been established and the remaining three units will be opened later this year.

To facilitate Thai firms accessing trade and investments in the region more efficiently, the department plans to organise 40 activities to broaden opportunities for Thai firms, develop products to meet market demand and provide a chance to source raw materials.

For example, in Myanmar the department has designed projects to promote new entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises to do business there. The projects include a push to set up a Thai bank association in Myanmar, promote brands from Thailand and study the potential of the Myeik Industrial Zone to support the Thai seafood industry.

The department has also teamed with the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Assumption University to outline an MBA course for doing business in Myanmar.

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