Commerce minister to focus on agriculture, exports and trade deals
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit revealed his top policy priorities upon arriving at the office on his first day of duties with his deputy, Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol, on Thursday.
“The Ministry of Commerce will focus mainly on four pressing issues,” he said. “First is the revenue guarantee campaign for crucial economic crops such as rice, corn for animal feed, tapioca, rubber, and oil palm. The farmers’ revenue guarantee programme has been one of the most successful campaigns of the previous government and is therefore expected to continue following the existing procedures and regulations which have proved to be working.”
The second most important issue is exports, the new minister said. “Although many speculate that we will not be able to achieve the 3 per cent growth target, the MOC is still confident in the power of the private sector to expand the export market in the second half of the year with the help of government policies.,” Jurin said.
Third main issue is the cost of living and rises in product prices. “These will require intervention policies that are fair to both the consumers and entrepreneurs. Finally, the last issue that the MOC will focus on is to complete the pending trade negotiations with foreign partners such as those for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Thai-EU Free Trade Agreement, which were put on hold due to the national election in Thailand,” Jurin said.
