Thailand prepares to launch national digital trade platform


Trading with Thailand is about to get even easier. Thailand will launch a national digital trade platform next month that will centralize and streamline import and export procedures and increase ease of doing business for companies.
The platform is the product of the private sector funding and development, but its backers are seeking government support. They believe that it will make the Kingdom even more competitive in trade, particularly digital trade, by offering businesses the flexibility to excel in this new era of global commerce.
 
Kobsak Duangdee, Secretary-General of the Thai Bankers’ Association, said that the platform will be the single location online to handle all Thai import and export procedures. After its launch in September, it will also begin integrating with similar platforms of some of Thailand’s trading partners, such as Singapore and Japan.
 
By utilizing the national platform, importers and exporters will be able to make a single submission of documents as opposed to submitting those same documents to several different government agencies and departments. The platform will be connected to those departments that direct and funnel submissions to the appropriate agencies for businesses.
 
Ease of doing business is a crucial factor in attracting foreign trade and investment, Kobsak added, and the platform will strongly contribute to that. Improving ease of doing business is a goal set by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
 
Jumrud Sawangsamud, Director-General of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said that Thailand will present the early results of the launch at the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in Bangkok at the end of this year.
 
He also mentioned that the platform would improve transparency. In addition, Thailand could serve as a model for other countries considering building a unified platform for trade.