Government maintains Thailand's export growth at 15% in 2012

BANGKOK, June 28 (TNA) - The government has maintained Thailand's targeted export growth at 15 per cent this year despite possible impacts from the European debt crisis, but calling a meeting of Thai commercial attachés stationed overseas in Bangkok today to discuss ways to stimulate Thai exports in the second half of 2012. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong told reporters that the Thai commercial attachés were also set to report economic outlooks in the countries where they are stationed. Kittirat acknowledged that the ongoing European debt crisis could affect some 2,100 local business operators through, probably, a drop in their exports and the Thai government is seeking ways to assist them. At the meeting, Kittirat instructed the Thai commercial attachés to study different levels of economic strength of Thailand's trading partners so that the Thai government's varied export stimulus measures would be implemented to effectively boost Thai exports. According to the deputy premier, the situation in the Thai textile sector remains stable, as it has not yet been affected by the debt woe in Europe and European leaders are also speeding up addressing the ongoing debt crisis. (TNA)