Commerce Ministry launches a website to promote SMEs

NONTHABURI, May 18 (TNA) – The Commerce Ministry is actively promoting electronic commerce and has launched www.kongdeetourthai.com to help market the products of small and medium-sized enterprises. Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said his ministry, 30 organisations related to e-marketplace business, financial institutions and logistics organisations jointly launched the website to market certified quality products of 100 shops. The website was expected to be a central e-market for local products and offer opportunities to small operators. Consumers could buy products directly from producers and there was a wide range of products on the site, he said. Products from the www.kongdeetourthai.com site would also be promoted internationally through the Thaitrade.com website, Mr Sontirat said. He expected the value of e-commerce in the country would double from 2.8 trillion baht to 5 trillion baht within 2021. Small operators were increasingly turning to e-commerce and the Department of Business Development was fully supporting the movement, the minister said. Products marketed through the www.kongdeetourthai.com site include fried peanuts, silk cocoon soaps, fruit cider, healthy socks, and coffee beans. (TNA)