Thai government assists small-scaled retailers

BANGKOK, May 29 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Commerce, is encouraging large-scaled wholesalers nationwide to support small-scaled retailers in their areas to survive and to sustain their businesses in the long run. Banjongjit Angsusingh, Director-General of the ministry's Department of Business Development, told journalists of the move on May 28, saying that the initiative is part of her ministry's assistance provided to local small-scaled retailers to upgrade and sustain their business potential in the long term. Banjongjit noted that her department has set a target to first help develop and strengthen the overall business management of about 5,000 small-scaled retailers, covering their logistics, marketing, image enhancement and customer service systems. Under the policy, Banjongjit revealed, more than 130 wholesalers that have been similarly assisted by her department will be invited to become the successful models and trainers for small-scaled retailers that will sell her ministry's blue-flag consumer products with cheaper prices. According to the senior official, the policy will help strengthen and sustain Thailand's retail business, while also creating more jobs for locals to raise their living standards and quality of life, as well as to propel national economic growth eventually. Besides, her department has also promoted and supported local villages to upgrade and sustain their community-based products under the government-backed One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) Program, covering their marketing and distribution systems and the development of their e-commerce system, in order to strengthen the domestic economy from the grassroots level. (TNA)