Thailand expo opens tomorrow

The Seventh Thailand Exhibition which opens tomorrow will be the first trade fair to be staged at the new Expo Centre Sharjah complex.

"This will be the largest exhibition ever staged outside Thailand," Songchai Saisavetvaree, deputy director general, Department of Export Promotion at the Thai Commerce Ministry, stated yesterday.

He said Thailand has identified the UAE as being among its important strategic trade promotion partners in the region. Over 200 manufacturers and exporters dealing in 26 distinct product categories are due to participate.

Thailand's exports to the UAE last year rose 12 per cent to Dh2.39 billion, with first-half 2002 showing another four per cent increase. "Our exports this year are on course to charge a further 10 per cent jump over 2001," stated Sutisak Laohachewin, commercial minister at the Thai Trade Centre.

He noted Bangkok's imports from the UAE last year stood at Dh6.24 billion, with the trade imbalance being due to Thailand meeting most of its petroleum requirements from here.

Fasahat Ali Khan, deputy director general at the Expo Centre, noted since inception in 1996, the Thai solo-country show has grown 400 per cent in terms of exhibitor numbers, while having witnessed heartening expansion as regards scope and product category range. He estimated business recorded in the trade fair's 2000 edition at close to Dh100 million.