BANGKOK, Nov 5 — The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) believes that investment in infrastructure and special economic zones along the border will maintain Thailand’s status as the largest production base of ASEAN.
FTI Chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree said in a discussion on Thai industries in ASEAN in Bangkok today that Thailand remained as ASEAN’s industrial production leader, especially in electronic and electrical appliances, automotive and food processing.
He said that Thailand was the world’s major exporter of products worth over Bt900 billion annually.
Mr Supant emphasized that Thailand had to retain the status.
“The government’s decision to invest in infrastructure and special economic zones along the border helps maintain the status of Thai industries as the biggest production base in ASEAN,” Mr Supant said.
However, he urged Thai operators to improve their production technologies to cut costs, emphasize research and development and to patent their inventions.
He also advised garment and textile industries move to special economic zones along the border to benefit from cheaper labour costs using workers from neighboring countries.
The National Federation of Thai Textile Industries reported that the value of Thai garment and textile exports was the 13th biggest in the world, amounting to Bt240 billion last year.
