BANGKOK: Leading Thai companies will join hands with the Commerce Ministry in training and supporting local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand their trade and investment overseas, under the government’s policy to drive outward investment.
Malee Choklumlerd, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said her agency is scheduled to hold a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between large Thai enterprises and the Commerce Ministry in regard to helping SMEs in this way. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak will chair the event. Large companies set to sign the MoU include the likes of Berli Jucker, SCG and Srithai Superware.
The priority target markets for large enterprises to escort SMEs in starting trading and investing will be neighbouring countries, in particular Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam – the CLMV countries, for short. The promotion of SMEs to do businesses overseas is part of the government’s “Pracha Rath” (State of People) project, under which it wants to promote both inward and outward investment.
Large enterprises will help train SMEs by providing information and contact persons – or business-matching – for SMEs, while helping them to penetrate each market. Malee said the project would create win-win benefits for both sides, since large businesses would get additional suppliers, while SMEs would be able to expand by conducting business overseas.
CLMV markets offer good potential for Thai exports, as they have shown strong economic growth, amidst weakening growth in other markets, she added. As part of the project, the department will also organise a “Top Thai Brands” event in CLMV countries, promoting Thai branded products to those markets.
