The training program on “Trade Events Promotion” capped off with a synthesis-evaluation workshop on November 28-29, 2017 at the MI Residential Training Center, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

The workshop is the last leg of the said training course delivered in June this year to 35 participants from trade promotion organizations, Chambers of Commerce and Industries and business associations from the 19 provinces along the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC). Following the training in June, the participants were organized into teams consisting of two countries that will organize cross border trade events in their respective provinces as part of their action plan implementation. The synthesis-evaluation workshop brought together these national teams again to report on the outcomes and lessons learned from their experiences.

About 14 participants, comprising of leaders and sub-leaders of the national teams, joined the synthesis-evaluation workshop. The participants shared insights in organizing the following trade events: Cambodia-Vietnam Business Matching (October 5, 2017); Thailand-Cambodia Buyer-Seller Meet (October 7, 2017); Cambodia-Vietnam Business Matching (October 25, 2017); and Dawei-Thailand Trade Mission (November 6-8, 2017).

Sharing reflections on the training, Mr. Nguyen Le Thai from the Business Association of Ca Mau Province, Vietnam expressed his hope that the trade in the provinces in the SEC will develop faster now because of an organization like MI that provides experiences and opportunities for learning. On the other hand, Mr.  Sopheara Chea of the Svay Rieng Department of Commerce, Cambodia said that they hope MI can provide more technical support in the future and more collaboration in organizing such trade events in their provinces. 

The group likewise presented their action plans for the next three years as part of their commitment to further advance trade promotion for small and medium-sized enterprises.

“You are now the key person to provide advice and support to members in the provinces in the SEC,” Mr. Sa-nga Sattanun, Program Manager of Trade and Investment Facilitation Department remarked as part of way forward. He further added that the SEC database (www.sec4business.com) is one platform that they can use to promote their products and link SMEs in their provinces to global markets. 

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