BANGKOK, Nov 11 – Commerce Ministry says Thailand’s gem and jewellry exports in the first 9 months of 2012 was valued at US$10.9 billion, accounting for an 11 percent growth year-on-year.
International Trade Promotion Department director-general Srirat Rastapana said increasing exports were due to constant meetings with the public and private sectors on the readiness and preparedness to push Thailand to become a world centre for gems and jewellry.
However, Ms Srirat said the US$10.9 billion export value did not include unworked gold, which was separately worth some US$4.9 billion.
The value of Thai gem and jewellery exports in existing main markets such as Hong Kong, Japan, and Germany and in new markets like UAE and Lebanon increased, while the US, Belgium, and India markets decreased 9, 0.31, and 22 percent respectively, owing to the troubled economy and import tax adjustment on gem and jewellery in India.
High export growth was seen in UAE at 41 percent; Germany, 48 percent; Austria 58 percent; Singapore 92 percent, and Lebanon 261 percent.
