Director-general Pongpun Geara-viriyapun said her agency would send teams of officials to each province to help train SMEs on how to do business online, as the e-business channel entailed a low investment cost and could create quick returns for enterprises.

This month and next, the department will start by dispatching a task force to Hat Yai in Songkhla and to Chaiyaphum, Ranong, Chon Buri and Phetchaburi provinces.

The training programme will include a session on online trading in theory, and practice in how to design their own website, so that each SME can get its online operations up and running quickly, and at a minimum cost, she said.

The department has also |provided a central webpage, www.thaicommercestore.com, for SMEs to sell their products online.

The agency will also support SMEs in the selling of their products via the websites of leading department-store and supermarket chains, including Central and Tesco Lotus, she added.

Moreover, for strong online SME traders, the department will help them go international by introducing them to foreign traders via www.thaitrade.com, as well as supporting them in regard to using international online trading websites such as Alibaba.com.

To ensure that online traders are reliable operators, Pongpun suggested that such enterprises register their businesses with the department so that they can be verified as trustworthy among e-shoppers.