Bt1.6b purchase orders expected at BIG+BIH 2016

BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) - The Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG + BIH) 2016, the 41st of its kind, has been opened at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC) on the outskirts of Bangkok, expected to create purchase orders worth up to a total of 1.6 billion baht. Malee Choklumlerd, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, under the Thai Ministry of Commerce, made the assessment on Tuesday, as she expected the 41st BIG + BIH, set during April 19-23, should welcome about 50,000 international visitors. Malee pointed out that the fair gives an opportunity to designers to create their new value-added products to be in line with the government’s policy on promoting and enhancing competitiveness for Thai business entrepreneurs who are exploring niche markets. Organising under the concept of ‘ASEAN Lifestyle Plus’, more than 418 firms and 1,202 Thai and foreign booths are displaying products from several markets including South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Ghana. The senior official noted that lifestyle products are now also vital, as Thailand could earn about 2.78 billion US dollars from the products last year. Meanwhile, Jirabool Vittayasing, Secretary-General of Thai Lifestyle Products Federation, acknowledged that there are bright prospects for Thai lifestyle products, suggesting manufacturers to adjust themselves because more buyers have switched to place orders via online systems. Business negotiations for the BIG + BIH 2016 fair are set during April 19-21, followed by retail sales for the general public during April 22-23. (TNA)