Thailand's exports likely to grow by 9% in 2018

BANGKOK, September 26 (TNA) - The Thai private sector has assessed that the country's export growth should reach about 9 per cent year-on-year on average this year. Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, under the Thai Ministry of Commerce, told journalists that the private sector made the projection at a recent discussion, in which she participated. Chantira stated that Thailand's exports during the first eight months of this year expanded by up to about 10 per cent year-on-year, totally worth about 169.03 billion US dollars, thanks to the recovering global economy, stable world oil prices and the growing demand for Thai products internationally. Besides, the growing e-commerce and rising investment funds at the Thai government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project have boosted the national economic expansion and Thai exports consequently. The senior official anticipated, meanwhile, that Thailand's export growth rate on average next year should be comparable to this year. The senior official said, however, that an official forecast of Thailand's export growth in 2019 will be made at the next month's meeting of the country's top commercial envoys stationed in foreign economies, set to be held in Bangkok on October 18 and chaired by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees economic affairs, when the updated situation of the country's shipments of goods to separate trading partners will be reported and discussed comprehensively, along with other positive and negative factors. (TNA)