Sipa aids local firms compete globally

Vice president for Sipa's business promotion and development Suwimol Taewasillachaikul said the agency aims to support about 30 local IT companies in developing  software solutions based on international standards so that they can also tap the global market.

The agency has launched the Step project in order to evaluate the potential of indigenous software development and help companies bring their product development and solutions management in line with international standards.

The project will evaluate local companies at four levels - Credit Step, Silver Step, Gold Step and Platinum Step.

The Credit Step will evaluate marketing strategies, financial standing and process management of a company.

The Silver Step will ensure that a company's technology and software development is in line with international standards.

The Gold Step will focus on helping local software companies tap the international market, and finally, the Platinum Step will help them develop software for niche markets and conduct research and development for creating innovative products.

"We want to promote and support local software development and enable companies to compete in the international market.

The project will also help international players, who want to outsource work to other countries, gain confidence in Thai software developers," Suwimol said.

She said Thai IT companies under the project will get a "Connected by Sipa" certification.

Executive vice president for ISMEP operations Maytee Leelawat said the corporation plays an important role in encouraging and enhancing the quality of local software development. It will provide consultation, help evaluation in the Credit Step and create an SMEs network and cluster to develop global competitiveness in local companies.

Director of the SMEs Promo-tional Scheme Development Department of OSMEP Wachira Kaewkor said the department plans to support the project with funding and business matching as well as identifying local companies who have the potential to export their products and solutions.

Suwimol said about 20 per cent of the 1,300 local software companies in Thailand have the potential to develop software for the global market.