Thailand's exports of genuine ornaments to Germany are expected to grow at least 5 percent this year thanks to the World Cup soccer tournament being held there, according to KASIKORN Research Center (KRC).

The leading think tank has said that Germany's hosting of 2006 World Cup football competition helps promote the expansion of the construction, tourism and consumption sectors in the country.

It also helps stimulate people's purchasing power and spending on Thailand's genuine ornaments.

KRC projected that exports of Thai ornaments to Germany this year would expand by at least 5 percent to 4.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Currently, Germany is ranked the third genuine ornament export destination of Thailand after the United States and the United Kingdom.

To maintain and increase the current market share in Germany, KRC said, Thai exporters must count on skill laborers for intensive production or handicraft works as a main strategy to boost the potential of the ornament industry.

It also suggested Thai producers and exporters accelerate the building of awareness of Thailand's product brands among consumers so that Thai brands could have an advantage over overseas rivals in the long run.

Source: Xinhua