SME Cluster Development and Export Consortia Training May 14-15, 2012
June 6, 2012
The two-week regional training program on SME Cluster Development and Export Consortia which was organized by the Mekong Institute, in collaboration with New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAID) was successfully completed on May 25, 2012.
Twenty-nine participants including SME entrepreneurs, senior government officials, and SME Associations, and Chambers of Commerce and Industry from all of the six Greater Mekong Sub-region nations (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and P.R. China) have attended the training which was organized at the Mekong Institute Residential Training Center in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand from 14th -25th May 2012.
The training offered participants to actively participate through plenary discussions, course activities, group work and presentations. Field trips were also organized, visiting SME clusters and export consortia in Nakhon Ratchasima province, including Korat Food Cluster, International Harmony Life Company, Dan Kwian Pottery and Taku Noodle Cooperative Group.
As part of the training program, the participants have jointly developed ten action plans on building capacity development for the identified business sectors with representatives from the relevant organizations from the participating countries. The action plans were prepared for capacity development programs for the milled organic rice sector in Cambodia, silk sector in Lao PDR, dehydrated vegetable sector in Myanmar, coffee sector in Vietnam, AEC language service in Thailand and air ticket service sector in P.R. China. Action Plans for Consortia formation was prepared for the instant noodle sector in Cambodia, furniture in Lao PDR, plastic sector in Myanmar and tea sector in Vietnam.
The regional training program on SME Cluster Development and Export Consortia finally ended with the commitments from the participants to jointly implement the action plans within the frame of six months after the training completion with partial technical assistance from the Mekong Institute.