Bangkok, June 16: Export of products from four primary industries of Thailand to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are set to almost double over the next five years, director general of the Department of Primary Industries and Mines Anusorn Nuangponmak said. "Once the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) was fully up and running, trade within the region would increase, leading to a boost in exports of products from Thailand's primary industries,” Nuangponmak said yesterday.
Over the past five years, average annual exports to Asean of ceramics and glass, gemstones and jewellery, petrochemicals, and iron and steel have stood at around BT 25.6 billion (local currency), a figure that the Department of Primary Industries and Mines predicts will increase to BT 45 billion over the next five years.
Anusorn said that all the four primary industrial sectors were growing in line with Thailand's overall economy, as they were used as raw materials in various industries. This in turn boosted competitiveness in the global arena, and created high added value for the products in question.
The Asean market currently accounts for 13.85 per cent of goods from these sectors, and is the third largest market after the United States and the European Union.
Studies show that over the past five years (1998-2002), annual exports of ceramics and glass to the Asean grouping have averaged BT 3.9 billion, with Asean accounting for 18.99 per cent of all ceramic and glass exports, making it the second largest export market after Japan. Bureau Report