THE COMMERCE Ministry has responded to the
exports slowdown by strengthening its plan to promote service exports, in
particular healthcare and wellness items, by adopting the South Korean model
for their promotion.
Chantira
Jimreivat Vivatrat, deputy director-general of the International Trade
Promotion Department, said the department would promote businesses such as
spas, hospitals and cosmetic surgery as it foresees a good opportunity to raise
related revenues.
She said
Thailand could be promoted as a healthcare and wellness service centre, as
those businesses have been well accepted by foreigners.
According
to the Commerce Ministry, exports for the service sector are worth US$53
billion (Bt1.9 trillion) a year. The government expects that export revenues
from the service sector will grow beyond $55 billion this year.
Under the
service-business promotion plan, the department will focus on developed markets
and specific target groups such as the elderly and younger people who are
greatly concerned about health and beauty.
Lalida
Jivanuntapravat, director of the department's Service Trade and Logistics
Office, said that on a visit to South Korea to learn about its cosmetics
industry, people there suggested Thailand could become a centre for healthcare
and beauty in Asean. The South Korean government foresees Thailand as having
good potential to produce goods and services to serve the beauty industry,
Lalida said.
She said
that to promote the growth of the sector, the department would soon invite
traders and buyers from overseas for a field trip to Thai plants and a trade fair
related to beauty and healthcare.
She said
the department would also create a story for each product as a strategy to
increase their values.
Petchanet
Pratruangkrai
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