THAILAND Convention and Exhibition is pushing four “economic corridor” conferences to spearhead co-operation and investment with neighbouring countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and to strengthen Thailand’s position as an economic hub in Southeast Asia.
The projects are also aimed at bolstering links with the CLMV (Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam) bloc and China’s One Belt One Road initiative.
The conferences are:
- International Conference on Luang Prabang-Indochina-Mawlamyine Economic Corridor (LIMEC) – Spanning two cities in Lao, five Thai provinces in the lower northern region, and three key cities in southeast Myanmar.
- Cambodia-Vietnam-Thailand Economic Corridor Cooperation Conference (CVTEC) – This was first hosted in 2018 in Pattaya and 2019 in Rayong where an MOU has now been signed between the three countries to open oceanic transportation route along the southern coast of Vietnam, Cambodia and eastern coast of Thailand in the four Thai provinces of Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong and Chonburi.
- GMS Logistic Forum – The GMS Logistic Forum started in Bangkok in 2018 and the second edition in Khon Kaen in 2019. Both editions attracted around 450 delegates, mostly logistics operators from the six GMS countries.
- GMS Thailand e-Commerce Economic Corridor (GTEC)– TCEB hosted this inaugural event in Chiang Rai in July to provide a platform to link Thai community entrepreneurs with Chinese e-commerce platform operator, resulting in placement order for Thai products worth 70 million baht.
Nichapa Yoswee, TCEB’s senior vice president – business, said the four GMS economic corridor projects reflect TCEB’s role as a co-creator of business opportunities, under its ‘Thailand Redefine Your Business Events’ branding and the government’s objective to promote regional cities as a destination.
“TCEB has a policy to use conference and trade show as a tool to drive economic growth and generate economic impacts,” Nichapa said.
“So far four conferences have been held in regional provinces located in the economic corridors that connect with GMS countries. Co-hosted and supported financially by TCEB, the conferences have gathered entrepreneurs from Thailand, CLMV and GMS to form networks and join table-top sessions for business exchange. The total value of business exchange between 2018 and 2019 is now standing at 307 million baht [about US$10m],” she said.
