Bangkok--Jun 21--SET
The Market for Alternative Investment (mai), the SMEs Venture Capital Fund, the Office of SMEs Promotion and the Krungthep Turakij newspaper have joined hands with Thammasat University to launch the “Be Smart … Be a Star” project, a business plan training program for 100 entrepreneurs. The alliance will also provide financial support for ventures with the highest potential.
The “Be Smart…Be a Star” project was given birth by the collaboration of 5 allies. It is a workshop that will instruct 100 entrepreneurs to effectively write their own business plans. These entrepreneurs have all been found to have outstanding and viable business ideas but lack the capital needed for a start-up or a planned expansion.
Mr. Kittiratt Na-Ranong, the President of the SET said that the current Thai business outlook has changed dramatically, with the up and coming generation having different attitudes and dreams when compared to the previous generation which aimed to grow professionally within an organization. Today’s generation is determined to become entrepreneurs with fresh and diversified business ideas.
“If the government intends to drive Thai businesses with the principle of “value creation”, then the new generation should be the main engine. Many of the new breed of entrepreneurs have proven to have outstanding ideas and are brave enough to take a chance on a start-up business but they are often stopped by the lack of capital. This project will give them what they need and the “Be Smart … Be a Star” program will play an important part in the creation of this new engine to drive the Thai economy forward”, said Kittiratt.
The SET President went on to add that, “With the collaboration of the 5 allies, all the 100 selected participants will have a chance to truly benefit as they will get the opportunity to learn how to write a good business plan that will point their businesses in the right directions. The participants will also be given the opportunity to present their business plans to various Mutual funds.
Mr. Vichate Tantiwanich, the President of the mai, added that the mai is ready to provide assistance to the new generation to help them walk along the business street with all they need, not only with fresh, different ideas. These new entrepreneurs will have to have an in-depth knowledge of management and marketing as well as be financially prepared. To accomplish this they will each need a “business plan” to help them connect their “dreams” with reality.
“A business plan is an important step to opening up the avenues to capital resources needed by entrepreneurs to enable them to both access business opportunities, and reduce their risks, more effectively”, said Mr. Vichate.
Concerning the collaboration of the 5 allies, Mr. Vichate said that every organization shares the same goal, that is, to provide more opportunities for new entrepreneurs with ideas for businesses with high potential, especially in those areas that seem to be rising stars in the future, such as the digital, IT, service and tourism industries.
Mr. Mongkol Karsaemsun Na Ayudthaya, the Executive Vice President of One Asset Management Limited, who is also a member of the SMEs Venture Capital Fund, revealed that the SMEs Venture Capital Fund has invested in 63 businesses over the past 5 years and all the ventures that it has taken part in have expanded and significantly succeeded. Many of them started out from a business plan workshop as well.
“We are ready to provide financial support and assist all businesses we believe to have high potential and good viability. The SMEs Venture Capital Fund will be ready to invest in both knowledge-based and service businesses such as the Ao Pakarang Resort at Koh Samet or the Wang Yang Resort, which found joint venture capitalists in the business plan workshop it undertook. The Fund has carefully analysed and invested in these ventures”, said Mr. Mongkol.
“This is a very useful project that we can call a true capital bridge and the SMEs Venture Capital Fund and the Office of SMEs Promotion’s Fund will be waiting for all participants at the Business Fair 2005, which will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center from August 12-14”, said Mr. Mongkol.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Kesinee Vitoonchat, the Dean of the Commerce and Accountancy Faculty at Thammasat University, said that during the workshop, the SMEs clinic under the MBA program of Thammasat University will provide quality speakers and technical assistance to help instruct participants on how to write their own business plans.
The workshop will cover all areas including finance, marketing, management and operations. It will also focus on skills and tactics needed for the presentation of business plans to capital sources. And throughout the 1-month training period, participants will be trained in a workshop environment so that they will end up with business plans ready to be presented to financial institutions.
For more information,
please contact the Corporate Communication Dept.:
Ladawan Kantawong Tel: 0-2229-2036
Kulvida Jintakawong Tel: 0-2229-2037
Nattaporn Boonprapa Tel: 0-2229-2049
Watsamon Saowakhonsathien Tel: 0-2229-2797 End.