SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Trade and Industry & National Development, Dr Koh Poh Koon, officially launched the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) Bangkok in Thailand on 27 April.
GIA Bangkok aims to strengthen innovation linkages between Singapore and Bangkok and serve as an entry point for Singapore entities to connect with the local innovation and business community.
The GIA was a key recommendation in the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) 2016 report. It was launched in 2017 to strengthen Singapore’s connections to major innovation hubs around the world. Singpore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) has set up the GIA Programme Office to coordinate the overall initiative and work closely with Enterprise Singapore.
In August 2017, Enterprise Singapore signed two MOUs with C asean and HUBBAto provide programmes and office spaces respectively for Singapore startups keen to enter Thailand. The GIA Bangkok launch was held at the end of a five-day long immersion programme run by C asean.
Mr Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Singapore, said, “Thailand is a growing market for startups, given the strong push from its government towards a more innovative economy with the Thailand 4.0 initiative, as well as strong support from the private sector. Enterprise Singapore will help our startups plug into the Thai tech ecosystem and create market access opportunities in the growing market.”
