Thai SMEs to penetrate Myanmar, Cambodian markets

BANGKOK, August 7 (TNA) - Thailand's Office of SMEs Promotion (OSMEP) is preparing local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand their businesses into neighbouring Myanmar and Cambodia in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of this year. Maralee Khongsala, OSMEP Deputy Director for International Cooperation, told the move at an SMEs training session, held in Bangkok on Friday, saying that her office is also now joining forces with 15 educational institutes to advise Thai SMEs on investment in neighbouring countries. Maralee pointed out that Thai SMEs should be able to handle both positive and negative impacts and exercise privileges in AEC, a massive integrated market of 607 million people, including free movements of products, services, skilled workers and investment in the region. According to the OSMEP deputy chief, her office has also taken part in laying out policies on cooperation with other ASEAN members in the framework of the ASEAN SME Agencies Working Group (ASEAN SMEWG). Nimnual Phewthong-ngam, a specialist on ASEAN laws, acknowledged, meanwhile, that there are over two million SMEs in Thailand and those with yearly business turnovers worth at least about 50 million baht each have started to consider investing in other ASEAN member countries. Pasawan Kiratiwuthikul, Business Unit Manager of MIB Group, noted that Thai products are popular in Myanmar and Myanmar people do not consider Thailand as an enemy because their history subjects do not label Thailand as their enemy. Oranut Phakarat, vice chairperson of an association of Thai operators in Cambodia, revealed that Thai products are also popular in Cambodia and it should be a positive sign for Thai SMEs' expanding investment in the neighbouring country, suggesting that Thai SMEs find good local partners to ensure their smooth businesses in the neighbouring country. (TNA)