China, India, and Bahrain are high-potential markets, presenting new opportunities for Thai exports and long-term revenue generation. The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) have collaborated to organize business matching activities, opening doors for Thai SMEs to penetrate international markets. They also hosted seminars and provided consultations to enhance product image for entrepreneurs, along with real product showcases in Bahrain.

Mr. Weerapong Malai, Director of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), revealed that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OSMEP and FTI have jointly launched a project to develop the capabilities and marketing channels for SMEs, aiming to create trade opportunities in China, India, and Bahrain. They recognize the potential of these three markets and aim to strengthen SMEs in the New Normal era by finding new market openings, which will help entrepreneurs overcome trade crises and positively impact SMEs in the long term, contributing to overall economic growth in the country.


Mr. Weerapong Malai, Director of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP)

As part of this project, intensive preparation activities for entrepreneurs were organized in three approaches to enhance marketing capabilities between July and August 2021, including seminars and workshops, product image improvement consultations, and online business matching activities with partners in each country. The business matching activities included India and China, while Bahrain featured two activities: 1. Business matching negotiations and 2. A mini showcase at Thai Mart in Bahrain, allowing entrepreneurs to test real product sales in the target country.

A total of 100 entrepreneurs participated in this project, categorized into various product groups, including:
1. Food and beverages, processed agricultural products
2. Souvenirs
3. Health and beauty products
4. Jewelry and accessories
It is anticipated that the business matching negotiations from this project will generate a value of 200 million baht.

Both OSMEP and FTI agree that the markets in China, India, and Bahrain will be crucial for SMEs in the future, as China is the largest market in the world with increasingly affluent consumers. Additionally, it has recovered from the COVID-19 crisis faster than others, leading the World Bank to predict that China's GDP growth will reach 8.5% per year in 2021. Consequently, Thailand's exports to China in the first half of 2021 (January - June) amounted to over 600 billion baht, expanding by 24.9% compared to the same period in 2020. There are also significant opportunities for trade expansion, especially in fruits, vegetables, rubber products, and machinery.

Moreover, the opening of a high-speed rail line from Kunming in southern China to Vientiane, Laos, set to commence in December this year, will significantly boost Thai exports to China, particularly in agricultural products. This rail route, located near the Thai border in Nong Khai province, will reduce transportation time to southern China to just one day and lower shipping costs by more than five times, creating vast export opportunities for Thai SMEs.

India is also a promising market for Thailand, with a population of over 1.3 billion people, projected to have a GDP surpassing that of the United States by 2050. Currently, India is Thailand's 10th largest export market, with Thai exports to India in the first half of 2021 valued at over 126 billion baht, growing by 54.8%.

Given India's economic potential, it is viewed as a new export market for Thailand that could rival China. Currently, Thai exports to India are still relatively low, and the market is unfamiliar to exporters, presenting significant opportunities for penetration. India's high economic growth rate is driving increased demand for products, with promising export trends in jewelry and accessories, chemicals and organics, electrical appliances, steel and steel products, cosmetics, soaps, skincare products, and medical equipment.

Additionally, India's diverse states create varied consumption demands and serve as a gateway for Thai products to neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Thailand also has a free trade agreement with India, providing a competitive advantage over other countries. Importantly, Indian consumers have a positive perception of Thai products, which are regarded as high-quality and accessible.

As for Bahrain, it is an important market for Thailand in the Middle East, as it has a high purchasing power due to being one of the major oil-producing countries. Furthermore, Thailand has a free trade agreement with Bahrain, allowing Thai products to enjoy low tariffs, giving them a competitive edge over rivals. This enables Thai entrepreneurs to effectively penetrate the market, particularly in the food, health, and beauty sectors, which are in high demand.

Bahrain can also serve as a trade and investment gateway for Thailand to the Middle East, especially to countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes six member states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, as well as North Africa, South Asia, and Central Asia.

Additionally, OSMEP and FTI will organize the "Thai Make, Thai Shop, Thai Use" Made in Thailand event on the Shopee.com website from August 27 to September 15, 2021. This event will feature products from over 1,000 SMEs, including food and beverages, household items, furniture, stationery and school supplies, textiles and clothing, and souvenirs, along with discount codes worth over 50,000 baht. All products are certified Made in Thailand.
Interested parties can browse and purchase products at https://shopee.co.th/mitshopcampaign2021.