January 17, 2005

Thailand Announce Measures To Support Shrimp Industry

Thailand's government has announced it is stepping up effective measures to support the country's shrimp farmers who have been hit by last month's tsunami disaster, according Deputy Commerce Minister Anutin Charnvirakul

Thailand's shrimp exports are expected to face serious problems after the country's six southern Andaman coastal provinces, including Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun, were struck by the massive Tsunami waves on 26 December, Mr.Anutin told TNA.

The government, though, was confident that the situation will improve once the European Union (EU) restores the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for Thai shrimp imports and the US revises its anti-dumping duties on shrimp imports to help countries battered by the tsunamis, namely Thailand, the minister said.

Under a new scheme for shrimp farmers, entrepreneurs in the six southern provinces will be permitted to postpone submitting their balance sheets to the government.

Provincial officials plan to conduct local surveys to see how shrimp farmers in the affected areas can be helped to restore their businesses, Commerce Minister Watana Muangsook told journalists.

Other government agencies also plan to offer assistance to the tsunami victims.