Ministry of Commerce sees a potential in mutual benefits between Thailand, the U.A.E. and other Middle East countries

It is the biggest Thai fair ever held in the U.A.E. The highlights of the show are heath services, One Tambon One Product (OTOP) showcase, Thailand's original brand name products and newly project called Intertrader.

Health services in Thailand are now reached at the point that Hospital in Thailand can offer more advanced medical devices, experienced practitioners, great hospitality, competitive fees, and world class standards to the international patients. There is a 200-percent increase in the numbers of international visitors from the Middle East countries. Two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are signed this year between the U.A.E. officials included Dubai Police Department and Sharjah Expo Center and Thai hospitals.

One Tambon One Product or OTOP offers uniquely distinctive and valuable products to Middle Eastern customers. Tambon means village in Thai. The OTOP policy tries to do is to bring out such great potential from the local communities at the tambon. The Thai government has also encouraged Thai villagers to use their skills to make products as supplementary income. The Government would lend a hand in reinforcing product quality to reach international standards, and support the villagers in promoting their products, thus propelling Thai products to the international market.

Moreover, the highlights of the show are the brand name products such as Vanson (Men's Suit), Serene (Lingerie), Jousse (Ladies Wear), and Giffarene (Cosmetic). There are a great number of trading firms both from the Middle East and North Africa interested in being distributors for Thailand's original brand name products. The Middle Eastern customers have also interested in newly designed products from Thailand such as jewelry, home decorative items, and stationery. Thai Hom Mali rice is still in high demand from the buyers.

The intertrader project initiated by the Ministry of Commerce is one of the projects that will assist importers in Middle East area to expand trade with Thailand by establishing networkings. There are 1,300 companies registered in the project. They are the marketing arms for the manufacturers and exporters. Some of them are manufacturers themselves. Since Thailand can offer a variety of products, the intertraders can provide their services in product search, quality controls with prompt delivery to the Middle East importers.

Thailand considers the Middle East countries as one of the important counterparts. Apart from organizing the Thailand Exhibition in Sharjah, the Minister of Commerce visited the Palm Project and Jebel Ali Free Zone to see the country's new development. He also hosted the reception between Thai intertraders and Middle Eastern businessmen on September 27, 2003. Guests come from all over the Middle East region included Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and Syria.

As we all know that, the United Arab Emirates is one of the most important distribution centers in the Middle Eastern region. Also, it can offer infrastructure including financial services, well-developed transportation, and advanced technological access. Thus the Ministry of Commerce might consider to set up a Thai warehouse in the area.