Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras earlier said he might scrap the Bangkok Fashion City idea, because the big budget was not worthwhile. Besides, it was reported that some part of the money had been misspent.

However, Sathit said at least some of the Bt1.5 billion-budget had been spent to build awareness of Bangkok Fashion City amongst foreigners. Hence, to end this project may confuse foreigners and the government would have spent the money for nothing.

He said countries such as Italy and France had taken more than 10 years to develop their fashion industries, while this project needed only 18 months. "It's too soon for the government to decide that the project isn't worth the budget.

"I hope the coming government will reconsider this project," he said.

Kanjana Chookruvong, director of Jewellery Advances Research and Development (Jarad), said Jarad's second phase would continue

with sponsorship from Srinakharinwiroj University although the government didn't support it.

She said the country's jewellery industry needed the government's support to improve skilled workers and technology in order to avoid competition with China and India in the low-end market.

The second phase of Jarad will focus on boosting the competence of jewellery workers so they could produce value-added products to meet the market's demand. She was pleased with the first phase, which produced 720 skilled workers.

Patcharin Stone, managing director of Diva Bangkok, said this project gave opportunities to small and medium operators to show their potential in foreign countries.

She said road shows were very important but they had to spend Bt200,000 to Bt300,000 for a road show in each coun-

try, which needed support from the government.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul, The Nation