Thailand's exports foreseen to keep growing in 2019 though slowdown

BANGKOK, May 30 (TNA) - The Ministry of Commerce has expressed its optimism that Thailand's exports should keep growing this year, amid the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, although the growth rate may not meet its earlier targeted figure. Banjongjitt Angsusingh, Director-General of the ministry's Department of International Trade Promotion, told journalists on May 29 she believed that Thailand's export growth rate in 2019 should remain in the positive range, but it would not be as high as 8 per cent year-on-year as her ministry earlier targeted. Banjongjitt reasoned that the global economic situation appears to be changing, as Britain may reconsider its exit plan from the European Union (EU), known as the "Brexit", which, if so, should make Thailand's trade talks with the EU become more progressive. Besides, it now appears, among other factors, that the tit-for-tat trade protectionist policy between Washington and Beijing should be relaxed soon, which, if so, should ease negative impacts on Thailand's exports to the world market. The senior official said, she, thus, believed that Thailand's export growth this year should remain in the positive range even though it would not be as high as 8 per cent year-on-year as her ministry earlier targeted. According to the senior official, her department will carry on efforts to boost the value of Thai exports to 21-22 billion US dollars monthly during the rest of the year. The senior official revealed that Thailand's revised export growth rate in 2019 should be reported after discussions between the government, through her ministry, and the private sector and a meeting between her ministry and top Thai commercial envoys worldwide, to be chaired by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees economic affairs, in Bangkok on May 31, during which further moves to drive ahead the country's exports should be assigned by the deputy prime minister. (TNA)