Completion Report Structured Leaning Visit (SLV) and Business Matching in Thailand Pisciculture Group August 15 - 21, 2017 Agribusiness Group September 10 – 16, 2017 Structured Leaning Visit (SLV) and Business Matching in Thailand Pisciculture Group August 15 - 21, 2017 Agribusiness Group September 10 – 16, 2017 Mekong Institute (MI) Khon Kaen, Thailand Acknowledgements We acknowledge the spontaneous engagement of the participants from 19 provinces along the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (CMTV) in the Structured Leaning Visit (SLV) and Business Matching in Thailand. The participants successfully completed all the program activities during the event, actively participated in the site visits and business matching. The SLV and Business Matching in Thailand could not have been accomplished without the kind and generous support from the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). Lastly, our sincere appreciation also goes to the Project Team of Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Department and all the Mekong Institute (MI) staff members for their support and assistance to ensure the successful completion of the event. Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Department Mekong Institute Khon Kaen, Thailand September 2017 i Executive Summary Mekong Institute (MI) conducted Structured Learning Visit (SLV) and Business Matching in Thailand on August 15 – 21, 2017 for pisciculture group and on September 10 – 16, 2017 for agribusiness group. The SLV and Business Matching in Thailand is part of the project on “Enhancing Competiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) of ASEAN Mekong Subregion (AMS),” funded by Japan – ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). The SLV and Business Matching aimed to provide the participants with an important opportunity to (i) have direct exposure to the successful industrial clusters and value chain integration models in Thailand; (ii) understand state-of-the-art production systems, including packaging, processing, standards and certification process, quality control technologies, research and development (R&D), skill development, and input suppliers in the pisciculture and agribusiness sectors in Thailand; (iii) identify emerging opportunities for two-way business and market development with Thai businesses; and (iv) establish networks and linkages with different key stakeholders in Thai pisciculture and agribusiness sector. A total of 34 participants (14 for pisciculture group and 20 for agribusiness group), who are SME owners and Business Development Service (BDS) providers in the SEC in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam (CMTV), joined the SLV and Business Matching. For pisciculture group, the participants visited seven sites located in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Chonburi and Rayong provinces, respectively and obtained opportunity to learn about key components of pisciculture value chain development, such as enabling environment, roles of key stakeholders and supportive institutions and technology readiness, and acquired applicable insights into best practices and success factors of successful industrial companies. For agribusiness group, the participants visited sevensites located in Petchabun, Phitsanulok, Lampang and Chaing Mai provinces, learning about key components of the respective value chain, input management, food safety, processing, packaging, certification, lab, export and import procedures, R&D and advanced technology in farming. In addition, business matching events were also organized where the participants met with several buyers and other business enterprises in Thailand and discussed further business collaboration and development. On the last day of the SLV, the participants made wrap-up presentations to reflect the results and findings of the SLV and Business Matching and how they are going to apply acquired knowledge for the further development of their clusters. To understand the effectiveness of the SLV and Business Matching in Thailand, the MI organizing team conducted the event evaluation in the last day of the program. Regarding learning program objectives, participants reported that the program met its objectives. As for program contents, participants reported that the program was useful, met their expectation, mostly increased their knowledge and mostly relevant to their work. Participants also indicated that they acquired additional knowledge on the subject. For Business Matching, participants reported that they were neutrally satisfied. Overall, participants were satisfied with the program, with the average rating of 4.06. On the other hand, participants suggested that the program should have more days and be more flexible ii so that they would have more time in order to prepare effectively for group work before and after site visit. They also suggested that the visiting site should be properly informed about the participants, their business and purpose of visit prior to the visit. Finally, the participants from both groups also recommended they want to meet more potential buyers during the business matching events that were jointly organized by the provincial Business Associations (BAs). Acronyms AMS ASEAN Mekong Subregion APs Action Plans BDS Business Development Service BoD Board of Director CMTV Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam JAIF Japan – ASEAN Integration Fund MI Mekong Institute PPP Public Private Partnership R&D Research and Development SLV Structured Learning Visit SEC Southern Economic Corridor SME Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) TIF Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. i Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ iv 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Program Objectives and Outcomes ............................................................................................. 1 2.1. Program Objectives and Expected Outputs ............................................................... 1 2.2. Program Outcomes .................................................................................................... 2 3. Participants and Resource Persons ............................................................................................... 2 3.1. Participants ................................................................................................................. 2 4. Structured Learning Visits and Business Matching Events ........................................................ 5 4.1. Pisciculture Group ...................................................................................................... 5 4.1.1. Orientation ......................................................................................................................... 5 4.1.2. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives ........................ 9 4.1.3. Mahachai Fisheries Development Cooperative ltd ................................................... 10 4.1.4. Business Matching Jointly Organized by MI and Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce ................................................................................................................................... 10 4.1.5. Anusorn Mahachai Surimi .............................................................................................. 11 4.1.6. The Institute of Marine Science, Burapa University Chonburi ................................. 12 4.1.7. Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited - CPF Chonburi .................... 12 4.1.8. Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited – CPF Rayong ...................... 13 4.1.9. Nuen Kor Fishing Community Learning Center ......................................................... 14 4.1.10. Participants’ Presentations and Wrap – Up Workshop ........................................... 14 4.2. Agribusiness Group .................................................................................................. 15 4.2.1. Orientation ....................................................................................................................... 15 4.2.2. The Chul Cunvong Co.,Ltd ............................................................................................ 18 4.2.3. Khao Kho Talaypu Natural Farm ................................................................................... 19 4.2.4. Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Naresuwan University ................................ 20 4.2.5. Impress Rice (Organic Rice Community Enterprise) .................................................. 20 4.2.6. Dry Banana Community Baan Koh Kut ........................................................................ 21 _Toc504467780 iv 4.2.7. Business Matching Organized by MI and Samaphan / FTI Phitsanulok ................. 21 4.2.8. Baan Wan Zomza Community Enterprise.................................................................... 21 4.2.9. Lampang Ceramic Association and Lampang Ceramic Cluster .............................. 22 4.2.10. Chaing Mai Chamber of Commerce Fair .................................................................