Thailand proceeds with business matching project with neighboring countries

BANGKOK, January 15 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Commerce is proceeding with its Young Entrepreneur Network Development (YEN-D) Program this year, after its initial implementation last year successfully resulted in partnerships worth 500 million baht between Thai business operators and their counterparts in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Adul Chotinisakorn, Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Foreign Trade, told journalists on January 15 that under the YEN-D Program, his department has gathered four classes of business operators and provided them with training and activities so that they can develop their networks and business partnerships. Adul said each class comprises 30 Thai business operators and 30 counterparts from a neighboring country and they have sealed joint business projects worth 500 million baht so far. Adul elaborated that his department has invited business operators of the new generation who are not older than 45 years old and are business heirs in Thailand and neighboring countries to spend time together and the four classes of the activities happened late last year. Adul noted that the program is aimed to boost the business value and his department has, thus, brought YEN-D participants to meet business operators in neighboring countries. According to the senior official, the program has already seen Thai and Vietnamese business operators initiating joint projects of facial and skin care products, snacks, construction materials and shoes, while partnerships between Thai and Cambodian trainees have concerned original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and air fresheners. Besides, those between Thai and Lao business operators have involved beauty, innovation, design, construction, food and curry paste business plans and those between Thai and Myanmar trainees have dealt with air-conditioners and energy-saving boilers. The senior official revealed that training under the YEN-D Program in the second year of implementation was set to start next month, with each consisting of 40 Thai participants and 40 counterparts from a neighboring country and joined by young Thai government officials and those of neighboring countries. (TNA)