Thailand: Trade-Related Assistance (Arise + Thailand)

Overview

Summary

The ARISE Plus Thailand Project aims to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth through international trade in Thailand. It supports greater connectivity and economic integration between Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in line with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.

The 3-year project, worth EUR 3 million and which started on 1 November 2020, aims to achieve a more transparent, predictable and competitive business environment, improve efficiency of public expenditure and service delivery, enhance organic agriculture practices and disseminate them within Thailand and other ASEAN countries.

These priority areas of support were identified together with the Ministry of Commerce and Thai stakeholders to help tackling specific trade-related challenges faced by Thailand. They are also relevant to support Thailand in managing the economic and trade impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

Ultimate project beneficiaries include Thai Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) which will benefit from improved business environment, policies and processes to increase their competitiveness. The focus on increasing transparency and simplification of regulations, for trade competition and public procurement, will notably address disadvantages faced more intensely by women and youth-owned businesses.

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Partners

Funder

European Commission, Directorate-General International Partnerships

Funder

ITC Trust Fund Window 1 - BDF (Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland)

Implementer

Ministry of Commerce of Thailand - Department of Trade Negotiations

Implementer

Delegation of the European Union to Thailand

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Projects

Lao PDR: ASEAN Regional Integration Support (Laos-ARISE Plus)

The ARISE Plus Laos programme is a four-year programme that contributes to the integration

Malaysia: Trade-Related Assistance (Arise + Malaysia)

The ASEAN Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) Plus Malaysia aims to support

Myanmar: Trade-Related Technical Assistance (ARISE+ Myanmar)

ARISE Plus Myanmar The ARISE Plus Myanmar Trade-Related Assistance Project aims to

Philippines: Trade-Related Assistance (Arise + Philippines)

ARISE Plus Philippines aims to foster inclusive economic growth in the Philippines through

Context

Supporting Thailand’s sustainable economic growth and business environment

Thailand has moved from a low to an upper-middle-income economy in less than a generation. It has benefited from strong global and regional trade, a resilient domestic market, and an improved business environment. Yet, it still faces structural constraints that must be addressed to ensure the country’s full participation in the ASEAN economic space and global economy.

Our project will support Thailand by:

Contributing to a more transparent, predictable and competitive business environment by strengthening the capacity of the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) to work in accordance with international best practices.
Enhancing the capacities of the Comptroller General Department (CGD) to work in accordance with international standards and increase opportunities for Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in public procurement.
Enhance the understanding of and promote policy frameworks and best practices for organic agriculture to ensure compliance of Thai products with EU and ASEAN standards, increasing business and export opportunities for Thai SMEs and farmers.

The course provides a variety of viewpoints and approaches on public procurement and shows us best practices in foreign countries with such a wide scope. (…) We will use the knowledge gained and apply it to our public procurement work in Thailand.

Apharat Asavarungruangchai

Fiscal Analyst at the Comptroller General’s Department (CGD)

I will use the knowledge gained through this training in my daily work. This training contributes to improving the CGD’s work, it provides a bank of knowledge that can assist us in expanding and developing laws. Regulations that we have already issued must be regularly reviewed and updated.

Unchittha Junjam

Legal officer Public Procurement Division of the Comptroller General’s Department (CGD)

If more officials from government zations or private certification bodies could attend this course or similar ones, they would base their work on the same quality standards. (…) I would like to thank ARISE PLUS Thailand for seeing the importance in developing and applying the quality management system in public and private organizations.

Warisanee Prechanaritchitkul

Senior scientist - Director of the PlantProduction Standard and Certification System Development Group

The project and this training can contribute to the sustainability of organic agriculture in Thailand. It strengthens our competitive advantages in bigger markets, at the international level. If we have ISO standards as a basis, operators will be able to plan, evaluate, and clearly improve their practices step by step.

Itsarapong Siriwong

Auditor of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) for rice and crop production in the upper Northern region of Thailand

This training course was very valuable. I can use this knowledge and experience and apply it when I need to explain to farmers that the system certification is not difficult and very relevant to them. If the farmers can apply this quality management system, it will eventually raise the agricultural standards in Thailand.

Onuma Khongsong

Auditor - Central Laboratory Thailand