BANGKOK, June 30 — The value of Thai exports may not reach its 3 per cent growth target this year because of its low competitiveness and the global economy, according to Thai exporters.
Nopporn Thepsithar, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council (TNSC), said exports would not reach the target this year and the continuous decline of Thai exports showed the possibility that Thai export’s competitiveness would fall in the long run.
Besides, he said that global economic situations had obvious impacts on Thai exports.
Mr Nopporn commented that the European Union’s announcement to reduce its relations with Thailand and the United States’ more negative consideration of Thailand due to its human trafficking situations had not affected present orders but he thought that their impacts on Thai exports would begin to make an impact next year.
He advised Thailand to turn to markets in Southeast Asia, China and India.
Kiatanantha Luankaew, director of the Dhurakijpundit University Research Center, said his poll found that 81 per cent of surveyed small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs thought the Thai economy would be better in the second half of this year compared with the first half.
They thought it would grow by 2.64 per cent this year and that sales would rise by nearly 20 per cent in the second half of the year.
They based their views on political stability, economic stimulation measures applied by the National Council for Peace and Order and capital inflows.
The research center also found that the rise of the minimum daily wage to Bt300 two years ago increased workers’ incomes but their cost of living went up continuously from Bt231 per day in 2011 to Bt266 last year, rising by 15 per cent.
The increment has been 10 per cent so far this year.
