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Published on March 27, 2008

Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti is trying to revive the Bangkok Fashion City project, to place local brands on the global stage.

A ministry source said activities under the new phase of Bangkok Fashion City targeted similar goals as those under the original project.

The source said Suwit planned to organise Bangkok Fashion City events twice a year.

"When people around the world talk about fashion, he wants them to consider Bangkok to be among the leading centres of the industry," he said.

The new phase is expected to tighten cooperation between public

agencies and private firms, particularly small-and medium-sized operators.

Suwit recently assigned authorities at the ministry to draw up project details, including a budget, and report its progress.

The programme was initiated under the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra government, which allocated Bt1.53 billion to carry out nine sub-projects under the programme.

However, the Surayud Chulanont government decided not to proceed with the second phase, because the project had failed to achieve its goals of providing the industry with value and higher productivity.

So far, several operators in the industry have asked the government to back the project, even though its massive budget was considered by many to be wasteful.

Sathit Puttachaiyong, director of Textile and Garment Development in Efficiency and Technology, one of Bangkok Fashion City's projects, said if the government did not continue funding it, the amount already spent would have been for nothing.

"We spent a huge budget over 18 months on creating awareness among foreigners.

"Considering that Italy and France took more than 10 years to develop their fashion industries, it may be too soon to say our project was not worthwhile," he argued.

Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation