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Published on September 11, 2007

Jumrud Sawangsamud, president of the association, said the association would formally push for Thailand as an SME-technology hub so that it would be a central SME market place in the region. The association started its push last year by conducting an exhibition and seminar for business and government sectors, both domestic and international. It aims to be a central marketplace for technology related to SMEs and provide business matching between business and technology providers.

"We see the Thai software industry has potential to be a central SME marketplace in the region since we have more than 4,000 SME-technology companies which develop their products, software and services to support more than 2.2 million SMEs in the country," said Jumrud.

He said Thailand is the first country to aim to be a hub for SME-related businesses compared with Singapore that had developed as a hub for enterprise technology.

"It is time to recognise the strong point of the country to promote software and ICT industries. In the first step, ATCI will promote an SME marketplace then next year we will develop an electronic marketplace for small and medium business to distribute their products online," said Jumrud.

He said the association also planned to develop an SME database for the region and an electronic catalogue to support businesses and customers next year.

The association had also worked with the Asian Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation to hold the Regional Software Park Forum 2007 and ICT SME Summit 2007 to create partnerships and to transfer technology and knowledge to enhance ICT skills for ICT developers and businesses in the region.

He also said the events aim to promote software parks as the key platform for innovations in the region and promote the Thai software industry to be recognised worldwide by 2010. The Thai software industry is worth more than Bt50 billion this year.

Jirapan Boonnoon

 The Nation