It was a great opportunity for MEGA Tech to conduct an interview with Miss Patcharada Nawakawongkarn, who has taken on the position of Director of Thai Entrepreneur Development Division Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) on October 2023. In this interview, MEGA Tech will be sharing the vision for leading Thai Entrepreneur Development Division to align with the ongoing efforts to support Thai entrepreneurs through SUBCON Thailand 2024.
Miss Patcharada Nawakawongkarn shared her career history “since the beginning of my employment at BOI in 1998 until the present, spanning over 25 years, my journey began in within the industry linkage development unit, or BUILD unit, where I dedicated 10 years of service. During this tenure, I organized events aimed to promote industries and fostering domestic production subcontracting to reduce the reliance on imported workpieces, thereby facilitating technology transfer to Thai parts manufacturers. Subsequently, I transitioned to the role of Project Analysis Officer, specializing in projects seeking investment promotion. I undertook the responsibility of analyzing projects and overseeing the benefits associated with investment promotion with a particular focus on the public utilities and basic services, energy businesses, especially renewable energy. This aligns with the policy of the office of embracing environmentally friendly businesses that prioritize energy conservation and use renewable energy sources, fostering a balanced and sustainable growth.
Until 2017, I was given the opportunity to be permanently based at the Economic and Investment Office at Osaka for 4 years. During this time, my primary focus was on foreign investment (Foreign Direct Investment, FDI) from Japan through establishing cooperative partnerships with the Japanese agencies, which was highly crucial, thereby enhancing support investment decisions of Japanese investors in Thailand. Having worked during that period of time, I recognized the importance of the role of industry linkage. In addition to the tax benefits sought by investors, the presence of reliable local suppliers and partners is also another important key factor influencing investors’ decision-making processes, as well as promoting the ecosystem to support investments within the country.
Subsequently, I transitioned back to Thailand to take the role of Director of the Economic and Investment Center Region 4 (Chonburi) for one year, followed by a year as Director of the Investment Promotion Division 3 to oversee essential industries and supporting sectors, including the steel industry, petrochemicals, and basic utilities. I then took up the position of Director of the Thai Entrepreneur Development Division in October 2023, which is like returning home once again”.
Vision to Drive Thai manufacturer Towards Production Efficiency
Miss Patcharada shared a long-term vision that drives the Thai Entrepreneur Development Division to remain at the forefront of fostering future entrepreneurs “Thai Entrepreneur Development Division, under the Office of Board of Investment or BOI, has 3 primary targets as followings: 1. Industry Linkage (or BUILD) 2. Promoting Thai SMEs and investments within the region and 3. Promoting Thai investments abroad.
I would like to emphasize the mission of industrial linkage operations, or BUILD, which is committed to promoting and developing Thai entrepreneurs through fostering connections between Thai entrepreneurs and both domestic and international large companies, with the aim of encouraging domestic procurements of parts to replace imports.
In the current situation of heightened business competition, the development of robust supporting industries and subcontracting, including establishing a comprehensive network of industry connections, emerges as a crucial role in driving the production efficiency, value creation, and competitiveness enhancement across the industry.
In addition to the challenges presented by factors such as fluctuations in the global economy, trade wars, and competition among superpowers in high-tech industries, there has been a significant relocation of production bases and restructuring of supply chains. However, challenges come with opportunities for Thailand to attract FDI, which is one of the essential goals in the relocation of production bases. This also presents opportunities for Thailand to become a production center and drive force in the global supply chain system.
Therefore, during this time, Thai entrepreneurs are presented with good opportunities. With the influx of important investors, both who have already invested in Thailand and those who are expressing interest in investing in the country, including in sectors such as electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and various automotive giants, alongside major electronics manufacturing companies with production bases in Thailand, Thai entrepreneurs must adapt, develop, and prepare for growth to enter the supply chain in the production industry.
The Thai Entrepreneur Development Action Plan aims to promote connections for Thai entrepreneurs to seamlessly integrate into the supply chain within the targeted industries, especially in emerging industries exhibiting potentials, such as electric vehicles (EV) and smart electronics, which are becoming substantial industrial clusters in Thailand. By encouraging entrepreneurs, especially SMEs, to participate in the supply chain to raise the standards of supporting industries within the country. Additionally, it is also committed to develop and enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs by creating new knowledge, therefore fostering technology transfer from large enterprises to Thai entrepreneurs”.
SUBCON Thailand 2024 is key to enhancing the country’s competitiveness
“Subcon Thailand 2024, now the 18th year, serving as an exhibition showcasing industrial parts and business matching event in the ASEAN region, marks as our huge event of the year. It is a vital platform to showcase Thailand’s supporting industries’ potential and advancing Subcon Thailand’s position as a regional hub for industrial parts procurement. The division is committed to promoting business matching opportunities, fostering negotiations for parts procurement. Leading buying companies both domestically and internationally are invited to participate in the event activities to establish connections between Thai entrepreneurs and domestic and international buyers.
The primary industry focuses of the event, in addition to maintaining the industrial base which presents as Thailand’s established strengths in supporting industries, including automotive, electronics, electrical appliances, machinery, metals, and plastics, is also on further expansion into targeted industries where Thailand has the potential to grow, such as the electric vehicle industry, intelligent electronics, and the automation sector, to enhance the country’s competitiveness on a global scale.
Especially in this year, the Subcon Thailand 2024 event has highlighted the strategic direction and technological advancements within the electric vehicle (EV) industry, which is the new product champion of Thailand. Moreover, the event served as a platform to promote and drive for development and establish connections throughout the supply chain. Consequently. the organization this event presents an important opportunity to share Thailand’s potential as a regional EV production base”.
Important Activities in SUBCON Thailand 2024
In addition to the area displaying industrial parts, there are also various activities in the event as follows:
- Business matching: matching businesses and establishing connections between companies. Both domestic and international buyers and subcontracting production operators, especially SMEs parts manufacturers in Thailand at the event. This year, it is anticipated to have no fewer than 9,000 pairs of business negotiations, with an estimated further trading value exceeding 22,000 million Thai baht.
- The “BOI Symposium” seminar, a platform to present visions and strategic directions for technological advancement and driving the EV industry from senior executives of major electric vehicle manufacturers. In addition, it aims to enhance the potential of Thai entrepreneurs and foster the supply chain development within the electric vehicle sector. Recognized as the important stage in development of industrial parts procurement, the seminar holds paramount importance for Thai entrepreneurs, leading to expanded investment opportunities within the country.
- BUYERS’ Presentation – providing information and purchasing policies for domestic electric vehicle parts to replace imports.
- BUYERS’ Showcase – a zone showcasing automotive technology and electric vehicle innovation from major automobile manufacturers.
- BUYERS’ Village – display of parts needed to be purchased and subcontracted for production by both domestic and international buyer companies.
Contacts
For entrepreneurs interested in receiving news and activities from the Thai Entrepreneur Development Division, please contact the channels as follows:
Website: https://build.boi.go.th
Line Official: @buildboi
Facebook: Thai Entrepreneur Development Division
- Calling industrial part manufacturers and buying companies for industrial parts procurement to join SUBCON THAILAND 2024 on May 15 – 18 2024
Hall 104, BITEC Bangna, please visit the website for further updates www.subconthailand.com
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