Bangkok--Nov 2--ASEAN BIS Secretariat
ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2004 to boost regional agriculture and tourism business for Thailand SMEs
- Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr Thaksin Shinawatra to speak at Summit -
Almost 900,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand will benefit from the new ASEAN Pioneer Project Scheme (APPS) to be launched for agriculture and tourism, to help them grow into Multi-National Companies (MNCs). In 2003, Thailand contributed 11% of total trade in ASEAN (US$712 billion) and 21% of ASEAN’s combined gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$680 billion .
The APPS will be presented at the upcoming ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS) to be held in Vientiane, Laos from November 27-28. The Thai Prime Minister, Mr Thaksin Shinawatra will speak at the summit. ASEAN BIS will bring together Heads-of-States and more than 500 top business leaders from ASEAN, China, India, Japan and Korea to explore regional investment opportunities. Nine Heads-of-States will deliver keynote addresses.
The APPS is a partnership between ASEAN governments and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) to fast track the growth of SMEs into ASEAN MNCs. It will facilitate regulatory procedures such as custom clearance, technical regulations and product standards etc, for ASEAN indigenous companies to establish businesses in the region.
Agriculture now employs about 60% of Thailand’s labour force and drives about 10% of the Thai economy. Agriculture in Thailand in 2003 took up over 2% of the combined GDP of the 10 ASEAN countries .
For tourism, international arrivals to Thailand were more than 11% of total international tourist visits to ASEAN (37.5 million) in 2003 . Tourism totalled 4% of the country’s GDP of US$143.1billion in 2003 .
Speakers at ASEAN BIS 2004 panel discussions include Thailand’s Mr Dhanin Chearavanont, CEO of agri-business and telecommunications conglomerate, CP-Group, Mr Freddy Lam, President, ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN CCI) and Mr Tony Fernandez, CEO of Air Asia.
Mr Oudet Souvannavong, Chairman of the ASEAN BAC said that APPS was conceptualised at the inaugural meeting of ASEAN BIS in Bali last year. He said, “It is ASEAN’s vision to transform the region into a single ASEAN Economic Community. Tourism and agriculture are the most common industry denominators among the ASEAN member economies and we therefore chose these to kick start the APPS to achieve an economically stronger, more competitive and integrated ASEAN. Our goal is for a single ASEAN economic community under which all our 10 member economies will work in close partnership to advance our mutual economic benefits.”
Organised by the ASEAN BAC with support from the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN CCI), ASEAN BIS is for business leaders to discuss, form strategic partnerships and facilitate trade activities within ASEAN region and beyond. ASEAN BIS also aims to boost government and private sector ties, and explore investment possibilities in the region and trading partners around the world. This event will precede the 10th ASEAN Summit scheduled for November 29 — 30, 2004.
REGISTRATION
Businessmen and investors who wish to register for the ASEAN BIS 2004 should contact the ASEAN BIS Secretariat at +65 6534 4036 or email [email protected].
For more information, please visit the ASEAN BIS 2004 website at http://www.aseanbis2004.com.
About ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS)
ASEAN BAC initiated the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in 2003. The regional annual event seeks to facilitate trade and investment between the business communities within ASEAN and explore intra-ASEAN and ASEAN-plus business opportunities. The Summit fosters exchange of views between ASEAN private sector and government leaders.
ASEAN BIS 2004 is sponsored by Platinum sponsors: ASEAN Secretariat, DHL Express, Proton (Malaysia); Gold sponsors: Keppel Corporation Ltd, Lane Xang Minerals Ltd and Silver sponsor: Beerlao
About ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC)
The ASEAN Business Advisory Council was launched in April 2003 in Jakarta, Indonesia by the ASEAN Leaders. The ASEAN BAC is a grouping of ASEAN’s most prominent businessmen, handpicked by ASEAN Leaders and approved by National Chambers of Commerce And Industry, to serve ASEAN Leaders as the primary vehicle for private sector feedback and guidance.
About ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN CCI)
ASEAN-CCI, representing the chambers of commerce and industry of the ASEAN countries, supports ASEAN in its pursuit of effective measures for regional economic cooperation. Its roles include accelerating the economic growth and progress in the region through joint approaches, endeavours and actions to strengthen the foundation and coordination for the enhancement of the communities of ASEAN.
For media enquiries, please contact:
ASEAN BIS Secretariat
Ms Adelind Tay
DID: +65 6534 0187
[email protected]
Hill & Knowlton
Ms Lim Chwen Yiing
DID: +65 6390 3355
[email protected]
Hill & Knowlton
Ms Pamela Tor Das
DID: +65 6390 3330
[email protected] End.