Thai government urged to help old SMEs

BANGKOK, October 19 (TNA) - The private sector has asked the Thai government to help old small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) so that they can help boost Thai exports. Phat Phasucharasphong, President of the Home Decorative Design Association, told journalists on Monday that most assistance from the government has been focused on new SMEs, while many old SMEs have faced high interest rates and non-performing loans (NPLs). Phat pointed out if old SMEs received assistance, they would become strong enough to help boost Thai exports. Jirabool Vittayasing, Secretary-General of the Thai Lifestyle Products Federation, also expressed his view that the government measures, designed to stimulate the local property sector and help new SMEs, should not significantly benefit lifestyle product manufacturers because people would spend their incomes on loan repayments first, as the national economy has not fully recovered. Therefore, Jirabool noted, his federation has tried to promote Thai exports of lifestyle products for two years and he has seen increasing orders from the United States, China, South Korea, Taiwan and Iran. (TNA)