New centre to help SMEs

BANGKOK, Aug 26 (TNA) -- The Industry Ministry has opened a centre to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said the government, the private sector, and financial and educational institutions set up the SME Support & Rescue Centre to support the development of SMEs and local economies. According to him, the centre will receive requests from SMEs and coordinate assistance including financial and development solutions with 28 governmental, private and financial organisations. The organisations include the ministries of interior, science and technology and public health, the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion, the Business Development Department, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Krungthai Bank, Bangkok Bank, Government Savings Bank, and the Export and Import Bank. The centre will help potential enterprises with financial and managerial problems and enterprises with rehabilitation problems. Mr Uttama said that apart from financial assistance, experts would advise the operators on other solutions, and SMEs at all levels and in all corners in the country would have access to seek help from the new center. The Industry Ministry would turn its provincial and regional offices for industrial promotion as branches of the new center where SMEs could seek help, Mr Uttama said. (TNA)