Commerce Ministry adjusts image of Thai silk to meet changing taste of international market

BANGKOK, Feb 16– Thailand has launched a project to create a new image for Thai silk in the world market by selecting one hundred pieces of Thailand’s best Mud Mee silk to compile a book with description in a bid to upgrade Thai silk and to expand the export value of Thai silk.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said the project is cooperation between the Department of Intellectual Property and the Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture. It would add value and create uniqueness of Thai silk to increase demand in both domestic and international markets.

A silk pattern contest will be held, targeting potential students with creativity to join the contest, he added.

According to the ministry, Thailand’s exports of silk and silk products in 2010 were worth nearly Bt683 million (US$22 million). The United States is the world’s largest buyer of silk overall, and is also the major importer of Thai silk.

Thailand’s silk exports to the US last year were Bt207 million ($6.7 million) while silk exports to Japan, Thailand’s second ranked silk importer reached nearly Bt90 million (US$2.9 million), followed by the UK with value of 56.49 million baht (US$1.8 million).

Other potential importers of Thai silk are France, Singapore, Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong and Italy, so expanding the markets for Thai silk and silk products have potential growth with meticulous work and unique shiny fabric of Thai hand-woven silk.

If Thailand can create Thai silk patterns for practical uses, it will increase demand for Thai silk in domestic and international market. (MCOT online news)