Issue 41

The Department of Industrial Promotion targets the Big Five in its new strategy to propel Thailand as a regional production base.
Prasong Nilbanchong, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP), has announced the department’s new strategy that is designed to drive Thailand to become one of the world’s best production bases.

“We need to set the new direction for developing our main industries in order to more effectively compete with other countries,” Nilbanchong said at the press conference for the Prime Minister’s Best Industry Award 2015, held at the IMPACT Arena, Bangkok on September 25, 2015.
Nilbanchong then set out the department’s strategy to drive the country’s key industries, particularly the so-called Big Five – the food and beverage; automobile and autoparts; textiles; rubber; and electrical and electronics industries.

The department established the Prime Minister’s Best Industry Award in 1993. Senior committees work together to select the best companies across various industries. The aim is to inspire and encourage entrepreneurs to improve their management and production in order to receive this award.

In 2015, the award for Excellence in Management went to United Farmer and Industry (MitrPhuViang Branch), and for the Outstanding SME to CNC D-TEX.

United Farmer and Industry’s award was due to its exceptional quality and environmental management system. “We are very glad to receive the award,” said Kanong Sakpetch, group managing director of United Farmer. “We always strive to improve our management because we believe in the necessity of continuing development. This not only helps us to be one of the leading companies in Thailand, but it also helps Thailand to develop one of the best sugar and bioenergetics industries in the world.”

Namchai Sakulchoknamchai, managing director CNC D-TEX felt the award would be a great boon to the automotive company. “Industry Award 2015 gives us a lot of inspiration,” he said. “It effectively encourages our management team and employees to keep on developing to be more professional in the future. Also, it strengthens this industry against the world’s intense competition.”

Notwithstanding the success of the major corporations, Thailand’s SMEs still need a lot of support. “Though the proportion of small and medium enterprises is higher than 95%, still, they are facing challenges and difficulties,” Prasong Nilbanchong said. “Therefore, supporting them to be able to steadily grow, the ministry needs to be continuously responsible for master planning and making them move forwards together.”

For more information, please visit: www.dip.go.th
Words by Patcharee Taedangpetch