The Commerce Ministry's Department of International Trade Promotion yesterday launched the "Thailand Trust Mark" (TTM) to replace the "Thailand Brand" logo used to assure customers of |the quality of Thai products and services.

Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said the Trust Mark would help promote the high quality and standards of Thai goods not only in Asean when it becomes a single market in 2015 but also globally.

In addition, Thailand will focus more on promoting two-way trade with its counterparts instead of concentrating only on the benefits from exports. This strategy will encourage trading partners to do business with Thailand as the country offers mutual benefits. Promotion of Thai products for export will also focus on value-added goods to achieve sustainable growth.

He said the new TTM would certify products and services that are in conformity with internationally accepted standards. The Trust Mark will guarantee the diversity and refinement of products and services from Thailand, which consumers worldwide can trust as a reliable country-of-origin standard. He said that despite a slowing global economy, Thailand would continue to enjoy export growth of at least 15 per cent this year thanks to stringent trade-stimulation measures and the ability of Thai exporters to add value to their products and services. Kittiratt said that although exports in December shrank because of the severe impact of |the floods, they were recovering and should return to growth in the current first quarter of the new year.

Somchai Phornchindarak, president of the Thai Gems and Jewellery Traders Association, said that after Thailand faced serious floods and political uncertainty, it was good timing for the government to focus on driving trade growth.

Steady forex rates

He urged the government to play a greater role in facilitating trade and stable exchange rates to ensure export expansion, which is one of the Kingdom's key economic engines.

Andrew Jacka, president of Thai Spa Association, said the country had to continue creating unique and high-quality products and services as a strategy to boost export value and ensure competitiveness among Asean countries. 

The association projects that the spa industry will grow by 10 per cent this year.

The Nation January 19, 2012