ASIA - The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in Hanoi.
The MoU follows TCEB’s ‘MICE Collaboration’ strategic plan, which aims to promote the MICE industry in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. It is expected to pave the way towards establishing a long-term affiliation in five sectors: bilateral trade missions; facilitation in meetings and trade events delegates; support in cross-promotion; exchanging market surveys among ASEAN members and mutually providing both financial and non-financial support.
“As a government agency dedicated to supporting the MICE industry, TCEB is keenly aware of the importance of regional cooperation to boost the growth of the industry,” said TCEB director of exhibitions, Supawan Teerarat.
“We expect the forthcoming economic integration within ASEAN in 2015 to drive a major expansion of the MICE industry in Southeast Asia, and it is therefore crucial to develop multifaceted bilateral cooperation with other member countries.”
According to the Royal Thai Ministry of Commerce, trade between the two nations increased by 25 per cent in 2011, reaching US$9bn. Vietnam’s exports to Thailand increased by 45 per cent. Thailand has more than 230 investment projects in the pipeline in Vietnam, ranking it in the top 10 countries and territories investing in its fellow southeast Asian country.
Both countries are among those building towards the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), aimed at increasing regional economic integration by 2015 through a single market and production base.
In term of MICE business, Vietnam is one of the dominant markets in Thailand’s exhibitions industry.
The TCEB is on the lookout for a new president following the resignation this month of Akapol Soarasuchart.
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