Politics wont affect exports: Minister

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Bangkok Post

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Politics wont' affect exports: Minister

 

Thailand's ongoing political turbulence will not affect exports, and investor confidence might well be restored, if the government succeeds in ending the unrest, Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet said on the weekend.

 

Concerns by the private sector over a verdict to be handed down by the Constitution Tribunal on May 30 on alleged should have eased following a speech given by His Majesty the King on his anxieties over political problem, Mr. Krirkkrai said.

 

The Commerce Ministry is not worried at all because of the continuing flow of purchase orders for Thai goods means 'business as usual' for Thailand's overseas buyers, he said. The Thai economy in general has improved over six months of the interim government, with inflation not too high, clarified planning and timetable for government investment in mega-projects, and continuing low prices on consumer goods.

 

Exports in the past four months increased steadily, clear indication that foreign buyers had not reduced the volume of their purchases, he said. The Ministry of Commerce is confident that this year's exports could meet the target growth of between 10-12.5 per cent, or equivalent to US$140 billion.

 

Mr. Krirkkrai said he had ordered the Internal Trade Department to closely monitor local goods prices following an increase in oil prices. He said the prices of consumer goods could be allowed to increase if their production costs have been impacted by rising oil prices. (TNA)