Bangkok--Mar 3--Weber Shandwick
Last year Thai resident scored the highest in the tenth JETRO business Japanese proficiency test (JETRO TEST) among approximately 3,000 contestants worldwide, excluding Japan, Atsuo Kuroda, president of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Bangkok said. The recent top scorer, Ms. Voraluck Thammanichanon, got 738 out of 800, making her win the 1st place if excluding Japan and the 8th position in the world.
Asia Pacific winner Voraluck works as a freelance interpreter and currently is a part of a consulting team in the Japan Management Association Consultants (JMAC). Voraluck took the first Japanese language class in 1982 at Tokyo Foreign Language University as she won a scholarship from the Japanese government.
Voraluck said, “Knowing the Japanese language is a big advantage. Although knowing basic grammar rules and general conversation is enough to get by, I encourage everybody to make the effort to be proficient in business Japanese, in order to make the most out of their abilities and to increase their professionalism.”
“The test also has additional practical benefits,” Voraluck said, “Strong results often come with promotions and salary rises for Thai employees in Japanese companies.”
“JETRO will also hold an award presentation ceremony to congratulate Voraluck on her precious acheivement as well as the 30 highest scoring Thai examination candidates of the past year at Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel on March 13,” said JETRO president Atsuo Kuroda.
Mr. Kuroda also urged Thailand’s enterprises to upgrade their human resources in preparation for the upcoming Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan. “The Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership, which includes Japan-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), means a higher flow-in of trade and investments as well as more knowledge transfer and human resource exchange in the future. As a result, in order to reap mutual benefits from the business deals, it is best to invest in human resource development, starting with bridging the communication gap.”
“There are about 7,000 Japanese companies operating in Thailand, not to mention a number of Thai and foreign firms that need to deal with Japanese professionals both at present and after the EPA takes effect,” stated Mr. Kuroda.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, current trade volume between Japan and Thailand accounts for approximately 20% of Thailand’s total trade with all other countries. In addition, Japan has been the Kingdom’s largest foreign investor with a net investment value accounting for well over 40% of total foreign direct investment.
“More and more business people are taking Japanese as a second or third language, reflected by an increasing number of contestants for JETRO’s business Japanese proficiency test in the past eight years,” said Mr. Kuroda.
The JETRO Test is recognized internationally by employers as one of the most practical business Japanese tests. Unlike typical tests, the JETRO Test has been developed to assess not only the ability to communicate and negotiate in formal Japanese but also to understand Japanese customs and practices, which is a lot more challenging yet much more rewarding since the examination is gaining higher worldwide recognition each year.
JETRO conducts two JETRO Tests annually in June and November. Application to take the 11th JETRO test can be made from February 24 to April 27, by contacting the Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) on 0-2258-0320~5 ext. 41 or 42. For further information, please contact Ms. Naruporn at JETRO on 0-2651-8680 ext. 303, or visit http://www.jetro.go.jp/thailand/e/data/jetrotest.htm.
For more information, please contact:
Chutima Duangpanich
PR Dept., JETRO Bangkok, Tel. 0 2253 6441 ext. 147 End.