BANGKOK, 18 Mar 2014 — The Department of Foreign Trade is planning to establish 3-5 more provincial offices ahead of the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) next year.
Director-General Surasak Riengkrue stated that currently his department has 10 such offices scattered in various parts of the country. The additional offices will provide aid and business support to local entrepreneurs to make sure they will be able to take full advantage of trade and investment opportunities to be offered by the AEC.
Mr. Surasak said his department is in the process of determining optimum locations for the new offices. Once these centers are established, authorities will help entrepreneurs in respective areas to develop their capacities and ready for wider business opportunities in the AEC era. He said that not only the offices would facilitate international trade and services, but they would also protect the benefits of Thai business operators.
At present the 10 provincial DFT offices are in Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Chonburi, Sa Kaeo, Nong Khai, Chiang Rai, Si Sa Ket, Tak, Mukdahan, and Kanchanaburi. Most of these offices are located close to the border and have high records of trade with neighboring countries. Mr. Surasak said the areas hold great potentials to be developed as the country’s strategic trade zones for the AEC.
