State to set up silk market in Korat for added value

The Commerce Ministry plans to set up a Thai silk centre in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima to serve as a magnet market to create added value to Thai silk products.

The silk product market is worth more than 6 billion baht a year.

The market is due to be launched by the end of this year as part of a policy to push Thailand’s economy to tap into greater profit margins from unique local products, generating higher income for low-income earners in remote areas.

Deputy Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said the Pak Thong Chai district of Nakhon Ratchasima will be the site of the centre, where several famous Thai silk strains from across the country will be featured.

To create added value for the Thai silk products, Mr Sontirat said the ministry plans a magnet market, but a sales gimmick has not been decided yet.

He said the ministry is working with other related organisations as well as local villagers who make the silk products to determine an action plan to promote the market.

“On Sept 2, I will be talking with 20 leaders of villages in the area to figure out how silk will be supplied to the Pak Thong Chai district and other nearby provinces. Thailand has several unique and famous types of silk products,” said Mr Sontirat, referring to goods from Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.

He said most villagers in those remote provinces who make the silk products earn around 150 baht per day from their work, but the product prices are high when sold on shelves in Bangkok.

Mr Sontirat also plans to set up talks with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to figure out a plan to promote the Thai silk market to tourists, making it an attraction that brings in more buyers.

“Making the silk markets a tourist attraction brings more end users to meet the producers who make the unique products, allowing the producers to get a higher price for their goods directly from the buyers,” he said.