Foreign buyers now demand Thai exporters to help source products that are out of their production line so they just send Thai manufacturers only sketches of designs and the rest will be managed by the Thai side. This strategy helps them reduce the cost of doing business, paying only for goods, without making any investment here. Hence, Thai manufacturers have to find other qualified producers to keep the relationship with customers.

"If we can serve all the customers' requirements, they will be committed to place orders only in Thailand and help find new customers. This also forces Thai manufacturers to create a new trading business instead of focusing on manufacturing as in the past. We have played more of a role as trader." Dej Pathanase-thpong, managing director of Thong Thai Garment, said.

With the new trading business, the company can boost not only exports but also local alliances. That's because it has to supervise its Thai trading partners to develop garments to meet customer requirements, especially on product integrity and security.

(Source: The Nation)