Thai-Japanese cooperation on SMEs

BANGKOK, Jan 31 (TNA) -- A Thai-Japanese cooperation project encourages more Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to tap in business opportunities in Japan. Thailand’s Department of Industry Promotion and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, Japan (SMRJ) signed an agreement on Monday to offer know-hows of Japanese SMEs to their Thai counterparts. Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana said the agreement personnel exchange, E-commerce and J-GoodTech, a service providing information on Japanese SMEs to help bring those companies into contact with major domestic manufacturers and overseas businesses. The Ministry looks to increase Thai SMEs signed up with J-GoodTech from the current 1,000 to 2,000 SMEs this year. The agreement came as Japanese SMEs in various manufacturing and service sectors consider using Thailand as a base for expansion into other markets in Southeast Asia. The ministry is targeting 500 Japan SMEs investing in Thailand this year. To facilitate Japanese investment, the ministry will launch a program to match Thai and Japanese SMEs as partners for starting businesses in Thailand with hope that Japanese investment should also help transfer technology and know-how to Thais. (TNA)