Bangkok--15 May--Siam PR. Consultant The Ministry of Industry expects INTERMACH 2008 and SUBCON THAILAND 2008 to help stimulate the current economy as the authority is prepared to support increased capabilities on the part of the Thai manufacturers. The Board of Investment (BOI) is also positive that SUBCON THAILAND 2008 will enable small Thai subcontractors to meet directly with large buyers through the matchmaking program that should promote up to 1,500 business transactions worth over 2 billion baht in value. Meanwhile, the INTERMACH 2008 prepares to showcase over 3,500 items of technological machinery including the laser and waterjet technology used in processing metal sheets. Mr. Damri Sukhotanang, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Industry, as the Guest of honour to preside over the INTERMACH 2008, One of the largest manufacturing exhibitions in the region, said the Ministry of Industry had launched a policy to promote Thailand as a manufacturing hub of Asia and prepared to help raise the competitiveness of the country’s manufacturing industry. “At present, countries within Asia are developing their competitiveness in order to remain afloat in the manufacturing industry. For Thailand to become competitive, there is a need to develop the skills and know more about the business with taking in new technology to help reduce costs and bolster productivity. INTERMACH 2008 is one of the most important industrial machinery exhibitions that should broaden the perspective of industrial manufacturers, upgrade the industry’s standards and improve the image of Thailand’s industry in the eye of foreigners. The event is an exhibition of large machinery that sees participation from both Thai and foreign operators. In addition, there will be seminar events scheduled to benefit local manufacturers,” he said. Ms. Hirunya Suchinai, Investment Advisor at the Board of Investment (BOI), said SUBCON THAILAND 2007 saw over 1,000 successful business transactions worth over 1.2 billion baht in value. “The response was positive as the event was intended to help generate greater business opportunity for Thailand’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which engage in subcontracting of parts manufacturing. SUBCON THAILAND 2007 helped product manufacturers find the right subcontractors, which resulted in obvious investment expansion. The BOI and CMP Media (Thailand) Co Ltd — the co-organiser are quite confident that this year’s installment of SUBCON THAILAND will turn out successful with around 1,500 successful transactions and trading value of more than 2 billion baht,” she said. In addition, SUBCON THAILAND 2008 will see participation from over 400 domestic and overseas subcontractors with a projection of 20,000 visitors from the automotive, electronic and machinery industries. “An expected result from the event is the success through the advanced online matchmaking program, which is a tool to help set up appointments between product exhibitors and buyers to negotiate and seek partners — an ideal process to help raise business opportunity for local SMEs to supply parts to the government sector and larger companies. SUBCON THAILAND 2008 provides a Buyer’s Village as a venue for international buyers to state their requirements and post their standards of subcontractor selection. There is also a Special Industrial Clinics that offers valuable suggestions in business development and investment to both state and private sectors,” she explained. Mr. Manu Leopairote, Chairman of CMP Media (Thailand) Co Ltd disclosed that INTERMACH is a leading industrial machinery exhibition of Asia, recognized by world’s leading manufacturers of machinery. “It is one of the major exhibition that takes local products to the ASEAN region. INTEMACH has been held for 25 years and this year there will be over 1,200 participants coming from 42 countries around the globe. At the exhibition, one will find a complete showcase of advanced machinery used in Mold & Die making, Automotive industry, electronic industry and machinery industry, along with advanced innovation in metal sheet cutting — the laser waterjet TPP — and a lot more. There will also be special pavilions for international participants from India, Korea, Taiwan and China,” he said. Furthermore, a seminar on automotive industry and logistics systems will be held with participation from top executives of Tata Motors (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Mr. Ninnart Chaithairapinyo, Vice Chairman of Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd., who will share their views of Thailand’s automotive industry under the new government. There are special symposium on the preparation to free trade for part manufacturers by Mr. Taworn Chalattien, President of the automotive parts and spare parts manufacturing group within the Federation of the Thai Industries (FTI), another on Thailand’s logistic system by Dr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Deputy Secretary General of Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board and a roundtable discussion between the automotive and logistics associations and other concerned manufacturing groups. “The combination of INTERMACH 2008 and SUBCON THAILAND 2008 will truly help create positive results to industrial manufacturers,” he concluded. For more information please contact: Kwanpat Tungjerdjarad and Kessirin Kularbsawas Siam PR. Consultant Co., Ltd. Tel. 02-693-7835-8 ext. 23 or 25 Mobile 081-503-5300 or 081-632-9556