More than 200 foreign and Thai small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting, taking place in Chiang Mai on 7 of August 2003. The goal of the meeting is to present the approved micro-enterprise development plan.
Hopes are high that the plan will lead to a greater success rate in the sustainability of SMEs, the majority of which fail after only a few years in business.
Pramode Vidhayasuk, the deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Promotion, said that the plan included the establishment of a business consultation institution to take responsibility for improving production, product quality and management of micro-enterprise businesses. "This plan is aimed at developing grassroots businesses, and is part of the social safety net that will lead to sustainable development for APEC members," he said.
