Mr. Pitak Toom-in-thorn (Chairman of TAO)

99 Moo 2, Baan Tawai, Khum Kong Hang Dong , Chiangmai 50230

August 20, 2008

Subject: Requesting your cooperation in our Overseas Fieldwork in Chiang Mai

Dear Sir,

Let us first express our deepest gratitude for the generous support you extended to our preliminary mission to the province of Chiang Mai during January 28-February 2, 2008.

This letter is provided in order for us to formally request your kind cooperation with the Graduate School of International Development (GSID), Nagoya University, in our Overseas Fieldwork to be held in during October 1-15, 2008.

GSID, Nagoya University, established in 1991, was the first national graduate institution in Japan to pursue research/education in international development and cooperation. Based on the principle of respecting different cultures, GSID does not only adhere to Western development models, but utilizes models that meet the realities of developing countries. GSID, by attracting students from all over the world (over 40 countries), provides an ideal opportunity for students to exchange opinions and to understand different cultures. [GSID Homepage: http://www.gsid.nagoya-u.ac.jp/index-en.html]

One of the outstanding features of GSID as a graduate school is that it emphasizes practical education by offering Overseas Fieldwork (OFW) and Domestic Fieldwork. Every year 30 to 40 students spend about 2 weeks in a developing country learning various skills in a group setting: project cycle management, communication, interviewing, report writing, and presentation skills.

This year, with the help of Chulalongkorn University—Nagoya U. and Chula are sister institutions— we have identified sites for our students to visit in Chiang Mai and Lamphun including yours.

We will have four groups of seven to nine students, each of which deals with specific issues/topics related to development. 1) Working Group 1 (WG1): Economic Development This WG deals with the issues related to the empowerment of SMEs and its impacts on Chiang Mai economy. 2) Working Group 2 (WG2): Education and Human Resource Development This WG deals with the issues related to the education/employment opportunities and decision making faced by the rural youth. 3) Working Group 3 (WG3): Hmong People in Development This WG deals with the issues related to opportunities and challenges faced by Hmong people in the process of economic development and social change. 4) Working Group 4 (WG4): Tourism Development This WG deals with the issues related to development based on tourism, focusing on the aspects of social sustainability.

Each group will be assisted by two Thai interpreters. They will be students from Chiang Mai University.

We would be grateful if we could request your generous support during October 1-15, 2008 when we bring the whole team to Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces.

Sincerely,

Prof. Shigeru T. Otsubo Graduate School of International Development (GSID) Nagoya University Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan Phone & Fax.: +81-52-789-4966 E-Mail: [email protected] HP: http://www.gsid.nagoya-u.ac.jp/sotsubo/

Coordinator on Thai Side: Prof. Phaisal Lekuthai MABE International Program Advisor Faculty of Economics Chulalongkorn University Bangkok 10330, Thailand Mobile Tel.: (66)8-1628-4050 E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Attachments: 1) Groups to Visit Your Site & Expected Agenda 2) Member List

Groups to Visit & Survey Agenda

Groups to visit: Economic Development (WG1),

Our total number of members to visit will be of about 14 people. Among them, 9 are professors, 3 are students, and 2 are interpreters. Names and nationalities of the professors and students are listed in the attached paper.

List of Members to visit: Professors (3 people) WG First Name Family Name Sex Affiliation WG1 Shigeru Otsubo M GSID WG1 Phaisal Lekuthai M Chulalongkorn Uni. Logistics Penghuy Ngov M GSID

Students fr o m G S I D (9 people) Name Sex Nationality 1 Chan Sokyeng F Cambodian 2 Kim Veara M Cambodian WG1 3 Kulkarni Mandar Vijay M Indian Economy 4 Uesugi Takamasa M Japanese 5 Mitomi Fusae F Japanese 6 Ek Sopheara F C a m b odian 7 Murakami Takeshi M Japanese 8 Karlina Sari F Indonesian 9 Kotani Masayuki M Japanese

Date and duration of visit:

Oct. 3rd (Fri.), 2008: From 9h00 to 17h00 (about 14 people)

Questions:

(To Tambo Administrative Officers) Questions related to basic information of Economic situation in Baan Tawai, etc.

(To Owner or Manager of Baan Tawai Handicraft Center) Questions related to production factors (financial capital, raw material procurement, and technology), employment requirement, selection process, company’s market and marketing strategy, business opportunity/obstacles, sustainability of tourism development, etc.

We will be most grateful if you could kindly provide us company information and information related to the listed questions. And we assure you that all information obtained from this interview will be used solely for academic purpose.

Thank you very much in advance for your kind assistance and cooperation.