Startup Thailand 2018 fair planned to attract US$1-billion investment

BANGKOK, Dec 8 (TNA) -- The National Startup Committee will organise the Startup Thailand 2018 fair to attract foreign investment worth US$1 billion baht. Somchai Sujjapongse, permanent secretary for finance and chair of the committee, said the fair was set on May 17-20, 2018, to provide local startups with financial sources and empower them to penetrate foreign markets. He said the National Startup Committee has approved a bill to develop infrastructures to support startups. A new committee to be chaired by the prime minister or a deputy prime minister will be set up to plan policies and support to help local startups. Mr Somchai also said that the Startup Club project made good progress at secondary and vocational schools as 109 schools nationwide already participated. Relevant activities under the project already began at 17 schools in 15 provinces. The Startup Club Thailand Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/startupclubth) was opened to publicise the activities of the National Startup Committee and be a forum for communications and knowledge exchanges among nationwide Startup Clubs. The committee also approved a project to train teachers to share startup knowledge with their students. The committee’s work resulted in Thailand’s 7th best startup country ranking in the worldwide rating and the 1st position in Asia by the Startup City Index, Mr Somchai said. (TNA)