Northern Thai province produces young entrepreneurs

NAN, THAILAND, March 9 (TNA) - "Young entrepreneurs" are in the making in Nan Province in the Thai North so that they will develop local products in the future. Nan Governor Suwat Phromsuwan discussed the project on March 8 with executives of about 30 local secondary schools, as well as Rathaphol Khamwang, Deputy Secretary-General of Nan's Chamber of Commerce and head of the Young Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce and young business operators. Tuesday's meeting resolved to plan courses to teach local students about business administration so that they will be able to develop and market local farm products effectively in the future. Under the project, aimed at producing young entrepreneurs, local volunteer young business operators will share their knowledge on management, the calculation of costs and profits, production, market analyses and problems in business administration, with trainees to be local secondary school students and undergraduates. Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Nan will, on the other hand, develop a relevant curriculum. The deputy chief of the provincial chamber of commerce told reporters that the project resulted from the idea that young people in Nan should not be employees, laborers or farmers growing a single kind of crops but producers and operators. The deputy chief of the provincial chamber of commerce revealed that the present young business operators who are trainers in the projects have either successfully created their own businesses or inherited their family businesses, including silverware, hotels, retail and border trade. "Local students will have freedom to choose to learn their favorite business and courses should start in the upcoming school term in May", said the deputy chief of the provincial chamber of commerce. According to the Nan governor, many local secondary schools are participating in the project and such courses will take some 30 per cent of teaching hours. The governor expressed his hope that the initiative should create inspiration and introduce students to local business opportunities. (TNA)