State-owned banks have begun a campaign of aggressive lending aimed at pulling the country out of recession.
Measures involve fast-track loans on three-day approval, waiving loanguarantee fees and offering credit to foreign importers.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and executives of seven specialised financial institutions yesterday launched fast-track lending, in which borrowers could obtain loans within three days, or no more than 21 days.
The Finance Ministry wants these banks to increase their combined target lending this year from Bt625.5 billion to Bt927 billion.
Fast-track lending is major feature of the scheme. Korn said banks would not only reduce days of waiting, but also make loan documents simpler, with fewer pages.
To achieve the new lending target, Korn said the Samll Business Credit Guarantee Corporation (SBCG) would waive its 1.75-per-cent-per-year guarantee fee for the first year of the loan term. It will also double its per-bank-per-borrower loan guarantee to Bt40 million.
SBCG chairman Pichit Akrathit pledged to meet the target of providing loan guarantees worth Bt30 billion even though the scheme had not yet made much progress. So far, the corporation has provided guarantees worth only Bt3 billion.
Pichit said if the SBCG could fully implement its pledge, it would lead to bank lending worth up to Bt100 billion.
The Finance Ministry next week will ask the Cabinet to provide a financial subsidy to the SBCG to compensate it for the cost of implementing the project. For the whole project, the corporation needs Bt2.5 billion in compensation from the government.
Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Bank) president Apichai Boontherawara said his bank would offer credit to foreign importers, in order to promote the country's goods and services. To mitigate its risk, Exim Bank will advance loans via foreign banks. Apichai said he believed foreign importers could repay their debts even though they faced a lack of liquidity in their countries.
The bank will also offer credit to suppliers of Thai exporters.
For fast-track Exim credit, the bank will offer a revolving credit line of up to Bt10 million and notify eligible exporters within five business days of the completion of loan documents. Teh bank will also offer working-capital loans of more than Bt10 million and notify exporters of whether their application has passed preliminary screening within seven days.
Government Savings Bank (GSB) president and CEO Lersuk Chuladesa has promised to reduce loan documents from eight pages to two, group guarantees will require only two people rather than three, and loan approvals will be notified within three days.
This applies to microcredit loans for low-income applicants from the People's Bank and credit to small entrepreneurs who run businesses from their townhouses.
Ennoo Suesuwan, acting president of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricutltural Cooperatives (BAAC), said the bank's fast-track lending would be offered to 680,000 farmers and ordinary borrowers, with a total loan target of Bt22 billion. The bank's existing customers will get loans within five days, while new clients will be notified with 15 days.
Government Housing Bank (GHB) president Khan Prachuabmoh said h is bank would offer mortgages totalling Bt15 billion to people buying homes from land developers or building their own homes. The interest rate would be 1.5 per cent for the first three months, 2.99 per cent for the rest of the first year and the bank's minimum retail rate minus 2 per cent for the second and third years.
The finance minister said the GSB and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) would take care of the tourism industry. He said new loans would contribute 0.5-0.9 per cent to expansio of gross domestic product and that he expected 730,000 people to access them.
The specialised financial institutions have lent 99.54 per cent of their earlier combined target of Bt625.5 billion. The BAAC has lent 105 per cent, the GSB 116 per cent, the GHB 73.55 per cent, the SME Bank 64.76 per cent, Exim 50.26 per cent and the Ialamic Bank 75.78 per cent.
Lending by the specialised financial institutions rose 6.5 per cent in the first half of the year, while commercial bank's lending contracted 0.4 per cent in the first five months.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Thai government gets creative
With the ambition of boosting the country's revenue from creative industry,the Government plans to allocate 18 billion baht to a "Creative Thailand"project strategy.
The budget will come from the Government's economic stimulus package 2.The Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) and National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) will draft plans to use IT to add value and promote Thai culture, art and performance, entertainment and fashion design, covering 15 industries worth nearly 800 billion baht, or 10-11 percent of Thailand's Gross Domestic Product.
There are several key ministries involved in Creative Thailand, ranging from the commerce ministry, industry ministry, science and technology ministry, to the information and communication technology ministry and the culture ministry, said Sipa Director Rungruang Limchoopatipa.
Digital content and software play an important role not only in creative industry itself but also as tools for transforming and uplifting the 15 industries.
There are strategic areas that Sipa will execute to achieve the government's policy push towards creative economy.The first area is research and development (R&D), which will see several hun-dreds million baht invested in a cloud computing centre to support all creative industries.
The agency will increase its capability in entrepreneurship and establish a Digital Creative Centre, with a budget of 600-800 million baht, to be a one-stop shop providing all necessary hardware and software to support creative industries that use IT in their core business.
The centre will also build networking,with 30 related domestic associations including government agencies such as Nectec, Software Park under National Science and Technology Development Agency, and others.
Interms of international cooperation, Sipa will launch the Association of Asia Creative Industry, featuring 10 member countries from the Asia Pacific region. This association will form an Asia Fund to invest in the coproduction of software and digital content.
For example, Japan and Korea may be responsible for story development and techniques, while Thailand could cover production processes and Singapore might be responsible for marketing.
The agency has discussed with Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and IBM about joining hands on a new degree called "Creative Science Engineering Management" to build a new workforce of creative professionals blending science, engineering, art and management skills. The budget for the bachelor degree curriculum is set at 180 million baht.
Sipa will submit the project proposals and budget for 2 billion baht over the next three years to support its plan. For the fiscal year ending 2010, Sipa has already secured 200 million baht.
Meanwhile Nectec Director Pansak Siriruchatapong added that the agency,under Creative Thailand, will support R&D, especially in cloud computing, to facilitate digital content and animation as well as other creative industries.
Moreover, Nectec will use its technological expertise to add more valued to Otop products and Thai history and culture via digitised content.
For example, it will develop an e-museum and e-library to showcase the evolution and history of Thai culture.
If tourists views profile of a locally made product, including how it is made and its historical and cultural significance, its attractiveness to the potential buyer will increase.
The budget will come from the Government's economic stimulus package 2.The Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) and National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) will draft plans to use IT to add value and promote Thai culture, art and performance, entertainment and fashion design, covering 15 industries worth nearly 800 billion baht, or 10-11 percent of Thailand's Gross Domestic Product.
There are several key ministries involved in Creative Thailand, ranging from the commerce ministry, industry ministry, science and technology ministry, to the information and communication technology ministry and the culture ministry, said Sipa Director Rungruang Limchoopatipa.
Digital content and software play an important role not only in creative industry itself but also as tools for transforming and uplifting the 15 industries.
There are strategic areas that Sipa will execute to achieve the government's policy push towards creative economy.The first area is research and development (R&D), which will see several hun-dreds million baht invested in a cloud computing centre to support all creative industries.
The agency will increase its capability in entrepreneurship and establish a Digital Creative Centre, with a budget of 600-800 million baht, to be a one-stop shop providing all necessary hardware and software to support creative industries that use IT in their core business.
The centre will also build networking,with 30 related domestic associations including government agencies such as Nectec, Software Park under National Science and Technology Development Agency, and others.
Interms of international cooperation, Sipa will launch the Association of Asia Creative Industry, featuring 10 member countries from the Asia Pacific region. This association will form an Asia Fund to invest in the coproduction of software and digital content.
For example, Japan and Korea may be responsible for story development and techniques, while Thailand could cover production processes and Singapore might be responsible for marketing.
The agency has discussed with Carnegie Mellon University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and IBM about joining hands on a new degree called "Creative Science Engineering Management" to build a new workforce of creative professionals blending science, engineering, art and management skills. The budget for the bachelor degree curriculum is set at 180 million baht.
Sipa will submit the project proposals and budget for 2 billion baht over the next three years to support its plan. For the fiscal year ending 2010, Sipa has already secured 200 million baht.
Meanwhile Nectec Director Pansak Siriruchatapong added that the agency,under Creative Thailand, will support R&D, especially in cloud computing, to facilitate digital content and animation as well as other creative industries.
Moreover, Nectec will use its technological expertise to add more valued to Otop products and Thai history and culture via digitised content.
For example, it will develop an e-museum and e-library to showcase the evolution and history of Thai culture.
If tourists views profile of a locally made product, including how it is made and its historical and cultural significance, its attractiveness to the potential buyer will increase.
AEC WILL COME WITH STIFF COMPETITION, SMES WARNED
Incompetent small and medium-sized enterprises could be wiped out by waves of better-quality goods from the Asean Economic Community (AEC), researchers warned yesterday."Thai SMEs could lose out if they cannot increase their efficiency," said Aat Pisanwanich, director of the
Centre for International Trade Studies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
By 2015, they may have to shut down if they lack knowledge and research-and-development capabilities to stand up to other Asean enterprises, a new study conducted by the centre showed.
The AEC, whose measures will start going into effect next year, is expected to create an initial trade deficit of Bt923 million per year in the SME sector, due to the invasion of more competitive goods in the domestic market.
"Although the overall exports of SMEs will increase 10.7 per cent to Bt35.9 billion in 2015, imports will also jump 13.9 per cent to Bt38.03 billion in the same period," Aat said.
The eight SME categories that will be the hardest hit are electronics and electrical appliances, garments and textiles, chemical products, rubber and plastic, wood products, petroleum, mining, and steel.
SMEs need to understand more about how to take advantage of trade liberalisation among Asean countries, he said. But so far, the government has not provided help to develop SMEs' edge amid Asean's economic integration.
The government should draw up a strategy to strengthen SMEs. It must help promote the development of industry clusters from upstream to downstream.
The government should also closely monitor imports.
Local companies should further develop their product quality and create added value, while lowering production and logistic costs to ensure better competitiveness with other Asean countries.
The centre's study also found that incomes for farmers would not improve as a result of the regional economic integration.
On average, farm income will rise only Bt23 a month towards 2015, while income for industrial workers will rise Bt118 a month during the period.
Chainant Ukosakul, vice chairman of the university's committee on trade rules and international trade, questioned whether Thailand was ready for free trade in Asean, because SMEs were still in the dark about the AEC.
He urged the government to provide more information on the opening of trade in both goods and services, which could create new challenges for smaller businesses.
Centre for International Trade Studies at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
By 2015, they may have to shut down if they lack knowledge and research-and-development capabilities to stand up to other Asean enterprises, a new study conducted by the centre showed.
The AEC, whose measures will start going into effect next year, is expected to create an initial trade deficit of Bt923 million per year in the SME sector, due to the invasion of more competitive goods in the domestic market.
"Although the overall exports of SMEs will increase 10.7 per cent to Bt35.9 billion in 2015, imports will also jump 13.9 per cent to Bt38.03 billion in the same period," Aat said.
The eight SME categories that will be the hardest hit are electronics and electrical appliances, garments and textiles, chemical products, rubber and plastic, wood products, petroleum, mining, and steel.
SMEs need to understand more about how to take advantage of trade liberalisation among Asean countries, he said. But so far, the government has not provided help to develop SMEs' edge amid Asean's economic integration.
The government should draw up a strategy to strengthen SMEs. It must help promote the development of industry clusters from upstream to downstream.
The government should also closely monitor imports.
Local companies should further develop their product quality and create added value, while lowering production and logistic costs to ensure better competitiveness with other Asean countries.
The centre's study also found that incomes for farmers would not improve as a result of the regional economic integration.
On average, farm income will rise only Bt23 a month towards 2015, while income for industrial workers will rise Bt118 a month during the period.
Chainant Ukosakul, vice chairman of the university's committee on trade rules and international trade, questioned whether Thailand was ready for free trade in Asean, because SMEs were still in the dark about the AEC.
He urged the government to provide more information on the opening of trade in both goods and services, which could create new challenges for smaller businesses.
SMEs on alert as AEC nears
Local small and medium-sized enterprises are expected to be hardest hit once the Asean Economic Community (AEC) starts to take effect next year, a university study warns.
"Certain Thai businesses such as electrical appliances and electronics, textiles and garments, chemicals, rubber, plastic,wooden products, petrochemicals, steel and mining would face adverse conditions once import tariffs are brought down to zero next year under the AEC agreement," said Aat Pisanwanich, director of the Center for International Trade Studies of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
"Without proper preparations, those industries would definitely face intensifying competition and be subject to operating losses."
Eleven priority goods and services sectors are part of a pilot programme to be completed by 2010 under the AEC regional integration goals. Full integration is supposed to take place by 2015.
The priority sectors are agro-based products, fisheries, wood-based products, rubber-based products, textiles and apparel, automotive, electronics,information and communication technology, health care, tourism, and air travel. Recently, logistics were added as the 12th priority sector.
The study estimates that integration would raise export revenue from small and medium-sized enterprises by 35.9 billion baht and imports worth 38 billion baht in 2015.
Currently, exports from SMEs are estimated at 5.2 trillion baht, with the 12 priority sectors under the AEC pilot programme making up 80%. Imports were estimated at 5.2 trillion baht.
The study also projected that eco-nomic integration would benefit Thailand's non-farm sector more than the farm sector. Income of the farm sector was expected to increase by 1,428 baht per household per year, with the nonfarm sector rising 3,380 baht per household per year in 2015.
Currently,farm sector household income is estimated at 12,300 baht per month, while the non-farm sector earns 28,000 baht per month.
"We're now gravely concerned, particularly over five sectors - tourism,aviation, health care, and information technology - in which foreign ownership of up to 70% would be allowed next year," said Mr Aat.
"From this study, questions arise whether those businesses are well prepared for higher competition under the AEC over the next six years, as this should affect the way of life of all Thais going forward."
"Certain Thai businesses such as electrical appliances and electronics, textiles and garments, chemicals, rubber, plastic,wooden products, petrochemicals, steel and mining would face adverse conditions once import tariffs are brought down to zero next year under the AEC agreement," said Aat Pisanwanich, director of the Center for International Trade Studies of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
"Without proper preparations, those industries would definitely face intensifying competition and be subject to operating losses."
Eleven priority goods and services sectors are part of a pilot programme to be completed by 2010 under the AEC regional integration goals. Full integration is supposed to take place by 2015.
The priority sectors are agro-based products, fisheries, wood-based products, rubber-based products, textiles and apparel, automotive, electronics,information and communication technology, health care, tourism, and air travel. Recently, logistics were added as the 12th priority sector.
The study estimates that integration would raise export revenue from small and medium-sized enterprises by 35.9 billion baht and imports worth 38 billion baht in 2015.
Currently, exports from SMEs are estimated at 5.2 trillion baht, with the 12 priority sectors under the AEC pilot programme making up 80%. Imports were estimated at 5.2 trillion baht.
The study also projected that eco-nomic integration would benefit Thailand's non-farm sector more than the farm sector. Income of the farm sector was expected to increase by 1,428 baht per household per year, with the nonfarm sector rising 3,380 baht per household per year in 2015.
Currently,farm sector household income is estimated at 12,300 baht per month, while the non-farm sector earns 28,000 baht per month.
"We're now gravely concerned, particularly over five sectors - tourism,aviation, health care, and information technology - in which foreign ownership of up to 70% would be allowed next year," said Mr Aat.
"From this study, questions arise whether those businesses are well prepared for higher competition under the AEC over the next six years, as this should affect the way of life of all Thais going forward."
Monday, August 24, 2009
PM'S AWARDS GO TO 34 OUTSTANDING EXPORT FIRMS
Thai exporters who won this year's Prime Minister's Awards say creativity, packaging development and social responsibility have been vital for their business success amid the global economic downturn.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday rewarded 34 outstanding exporters with 40 of the prestigious awards in a ceremony at Government House.
Abhisit said he strongly believed Thai exports would soon return to positive growth, because there were good signs of economic recovery in many countries.
"Exports in the fourth quarter should increase, and that will result in a lower fall in export growth, averaging a 10-per-cent contraction for the full year," he said.
The prime minister said economic growth dropped 4.5 per cent year on year in the second quarter. However, he is confident the economy will recover in the second half and that Thailand's economic growth will contract only 3-4 per cent for the full year.
To ensure smooth export growth, Abhisit said the government would tighten collaboration between government agencies and support creative economic policies as keys to promoting a higher value for exports.
This year's PM Awards were made in five categories. Five companies were named Best Exporterl; five firms were recognised for Thai-Owned Brands; two awards were made to Best Service Providers; five awards were made for Otop Export Recognition; and 23 awards went to 19 firms for Design Excellence.
Thammasak Jittimaporn, managing director of Green Spot, which won a Best Exporter award, said despite some negative factors, including the strengthening of the baht and slowing economic growth, the company's exports still increased 20 per cent in the first half.
Moreover, the firm has contracted soybean farmers in the North as a strategy to lower fluctuations in world soybean prices, as well as support Thai farmers.
Pakinee Jiwattanapaiboon, marketing and research and development manager of Xongdur Thai Organic Food, which won a PM's Award for Otop Export Recognition, said his firm created and launched new products, with good packaging design, every six months.
Healthy food products are on high demand, and the company has set up many training programmes for its contract farmers, so they can better understand organic farming systems, she said. "The company's turnover has increased 30 per cent year on year despite the global economic downturn," Pakinee said.
Dhanabadee Art Ceramic won a PM's Award for Design Excellence. Managing director Panasin Dhanabadesakul said his firm had spent 5 per cent of its revenue of Bt65 million on innovations.
The company also adds valued to its products by adapting local wisdom and raw materials for its design creativity.
Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School was named one of the country's Best Service Providers. Headmaster Keith Wecker said the school concentrated on increasing opportunities for Thai students to study international progrkammes by setting medium fees.
Normally, international schools charge Bt600,000 to Bt700,000 per year, but Bangkok Prep's fees are Bt250,000 to Bt400,000 for three semesters.
Napatr Morin, director of Tia Ngee Hiang, a producer of processed food, meat and rice crackers under the Chaosua brand, said his firm won a Thai-Owned Bran Award by focusing on creating brand recognition and quality development.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday rewarded 34 outstanding exporters with 40 of the prestigious awards in a ceremony at Government House.
Abhisit said he strongly believed Thai exports would soon return to positive growth, because there were good signs of economic recovery in many countries.
"Exports in the fourth quarter should increase, and that will result in a lower fall in export growth, averaging a 10-per-cent contraction for the full year," he said.
The prime minister said economic growth dropped 4.5 per cent year on year in the second quarter. However, he is confident the economy will recover in the second half and that Thailand's economic growth will contract only 3-4 per cent for the full year.
To ensure smooth export growth, Abhisit said the government would tighten collaboration between government agencies and support creative economic policies as keys to promoting a higher value for exports.
This year's PM Awards were made in five categories. Five companies were named Best Exporterl; five firms were recognised for Thai-Owned Brands; two awards were made to Best Service Providers; five awards were made for Otop Export Recognition; and 23 awards went to 19 firms for Design Excellence.
Thammasak Jittimaporn, managing director of Green Spot, which won a Best Exporter award, said despite some negative factors, including the strengthening of the baht and slowing economic growth, the company's exports still increased 20 per cent in the first half.
Moreover, the firm has contracted soybean farmers in the North as a strategy to lower fluctuations in world soybean prices, as well as support Thai farmers.
Pakinee Jiwattanapaiboon, marketing and research and development manager of Xongdur Thai Organic Food, which won a PM's Award for Otop Export Recognition, said his firm created and launched new products, with good packaging design, every six months.
Healthy food products are on high demand, and the company has set up many training programmes for its contract farmers, so they can better understand organic farming systems, she said. "The company's turnover has increased 30 per cent year on year despite the global economic downturn," Pakinee said.
Dhanabadee Art Ceramic won a PM's Award for Design Excellence. Managing director Panasin Dhanabadesakul said his firm had spent 5 per cent of its revenue of Bt65 million on innovations.
The company also adds valued to its products by adapting local wisdom and raw materials for its design creativity.
Bangkok International Preparatory and Secondary School was named one of the country's Best Service Providers. Headmaster Keith Wecker said the school concentrated on increasing opportunities for Thai students to study international progrkammes by setting medium fees.
Normally, international schools charge Bt600,000 to Bt700,000 per year, but Bangkok Prep's fees are Bt250,000 to Bt400,000 for three semesters.
Napatr Morin, director of Tia Ngee Hiang, a producer of processed food, meat and rice crackers under the Chaosua brand, said his firm won a Thai-Owned Bran Award by focusing on creating brand recognition and quality development.
Friday, August 21, 2009
CRITERIA MAY BE REKAXED FOR CREDIT-GUARANTEE SCHEME
The Finance Ministry and the Small Business Credit Guarantee Corp (SBCG) are considering the relaxation of four criteria in the government's Bt30-billion credit-guarantee scheme after it fell well short of its target.
The ministry and the SBCG plan to lower the first-year credit-insurance fee of 1.75 per cent after small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) said they had not joined the scheme due to the high fee.
The ministry will discuss with the SBCG how much the fee should be slashed by, because the ministry would have to compensate the corporation for lower income resulting from any cut.
"We have proposed to the ministry and the SBCG that they lower the fee. They have reacted positively and will bring it to the Cabinet for approval soon," Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor Sorasit Soontornkes said yesterday.
Only Bt1.85 billion had been spent by the end of last month, short of the target of Bt4.44 billion. The authorities overall target through to the end of next March is Bt30.23 billion.
In addition, the ministry hopes to get approval to allow SMEs with loans not exceeding Bt40 million to join the programme. The current loan maximum is Bt20 million.
The government also plans to expand the give-year maturity of the credit quarantee to any period, depending on each debtor's loan maturity. This should help restore confidence for SMEs.
"We don't want the SBCG to cease its guarantee if the debtor's loan maturity remains. This could cause the creditor to call back the loan," said Sorasit.
Finally, the ministry hopes to win approval for the SBCG to give a credit guarantee to any type of SME business, instead of limiting it to certain types of activity as at present.
Howevelr, it will continue to provide all credit insurance based on normal risk management.
The assistant governor said the central bank had informed SMEs around the country about the scheme in order to persuade them to obtain credit guarantees.
The central banks is also expanding the Credit Cooperation Centre's role into that of a mediator on debt rescheduling between debtors and creditors. This would help prevent "special-mention loans" becoming non-performing loans.
The centre will focus only on retial debtors and SMEs, as they have less negotiating power than large companies.
Its new role begins in October.
The ministry and the SBCG plan to lower the first-year credit-insurance fee of 1.75 per cent after small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) said they had not joined the scheme due to the high fee.
The ministry will discuss with the SBCG how much the fee should be slashed by, because the ministry would have to compensate the corporation for lower income resulting from any cut.
"We have proposed to the ministry and the SBCG that they lower the fee. They have reacted positively and will bring it to the Cabinet for approval soon," Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor Sorasit Soontornkes said yesterday.
Only Bt1.85 billion had been spent by the end of last month, short of the target of Bt4.44 billion. The authorities overall target through to the end of next March is Bt30.23 billion.
In addition, the ministry hopes to get approval to allow SMEs with loans not exceeding Bt40 million to join the programme. The current loan maximum is Bt20 million.
The government also plans to expand the give-year maturity of the credit quarantee to any period, depending on each debtor's loan maturity. This should help restore confidence for SMEs.
"We don't want the SBCG to cease its guarantee if the debtor's loan maturity remains. This could cause the creditor to call back the loan," said Sorasit.
Finally, the ministry hopes to win approval for the SBCG to give a credit guarantee to any type of SME business, instead of limiting it to certain types of activity as at present.
Howevelr, it will continue to provide all credit insurance based on normal risk management.
The assistant governor said the central bank had informed SMEs around the country about the scheme in order to persuade them to obtain credit guarantees.
The central banks is also expanding the Credit Cooperation Centre's role into that of a mediator on debt rescheduling between debtors and creditors. This would help prevent "special-mention loans" becoming non-performing loans.
The centre will focus only on retial debtors and SMEs, as they have less negotiating power than large companies.
Its new role begins in October.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A way with waste
Fallen leaves and fruit skin have no use for city people, but a group of villagers in Khiriwong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, seem to have found a way with the waste which they use to produce natural dyes.
These dyes, created with local ingenuity and used for colouring clothes,blouses and accessories, have earned Tambon Kamlon, of which the village is part, a name and have been accorded OTOP (one tambon, one product) rating.
"We aim to make the most use of materials naturally available in our community," said Aree Khunthon, leader of a housewife group which has been producing natural dyes for 14 years.
The orchards of Khiriwong yield mangosteen, durian, rambutan, garcinia
som khaek ), longon, mango, parkia sataw ) and other plants depending on time of year, a factor helped by good weather and fresh air that, according to the Pollution Control Department, is among the cleanest measured in the country. The village sits at the foot of Khao Luang, the highest mountain in southern Thailand.
But selling fruit alone wasn't enough to make a living, recalled Aree of the years before her group embarked on a programme to produce natural dyes to supplement their meagre income. Back then the average earning of a family was 10,000-30,000 baht earned between August and October, while it sat idled for the rest of the year.
Following a series of natural disasters starting with flooding in 1975 and 1988 and drought in 1996, the villagers decided to switch to something that would allow them stable and sustained income, and where they wouldn't have to rely soely on the weather.
After several rounds of debate and discussion, they settled on something that would make use of local ingenuity,using up to 80% of raw materials available locally and be environmentally friendly,explained Aree.
For start-up capital, the village received 25,000 baht from the Komol Keemthong Foundation."Instead of using plastic ropes to create patterns on cloth, we use bamboo sticks, which come handy when making small patterns such as flowers and leaves, and they can also be reused," she said.
The cloth is put in a basin containing liquid dyes produced from natural materials.
The dyes themselves are made by boiling the leaves or fruit in huge enamel basins for a whole day. Dead mangosteen leaves give off orange colour while fresh ones produce pink shade; bangal almond produces yellowish-green shade; parkia pods give off grey colour; parkia pods boiled with rambutan skins produce dark grey hue; core of jackfruit produces yellow colour; leaves of peka (Oroxylum indicum ) olive green; and seeds of jiringa (nieng ) brown colour.Each piece of cloth is dyed at least three times to ensure colour does not run. The raw materials used to make the dyes are later dried to be used as cooking fuel.
Currently there are 33 families joining the programme, each earning between 3,000 to 7,000 baht a month selling cotton shirts, blouses, pants, tablecloths, bed cover sheets, pillow cases, hats, key chains and bags.
"We will keep experimenting trying to use natural materials to explore new dyes and create fresh designs," said Aree,"to ensure the products we make remain unique to our village."
Located in Lan Saka district, the village of Khiriwong, which was rated the "Best Community Attraction" at the Thailand Tourism Awards in 1998, offers homestay and trekking tours to Khao Luang National Park. Visitors can buy homemade mangosteen wine, soap made from mangosteen skins and various herbs, and preserved durian. August to October is high fruit season.
To get to the village, take a minibus from Talat Yao in Muang district, available between 7am-4pm.Alternatively, you can take Highway 4016 from town and drive onto Highway 4015 to Lan Saka, a distance of about 26 kilometres. The village is at Kilometre 20 marker to your right.
For more information, visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand's web site at www.tourismthailand.org
These dyes, created with local ingenuity and used for colouring clothes,blouses and accessories, have earned Tambon Kamlon, of which the village is part, a name and have been accorded OTOP (one tambon, one product) rating.
"We aim to make the most use of materials naturally available in our community," said Aree Khunthon, leader of a housewife group which has been producing natural dyes for 14 years.
The orchards of Khiriwong yield mangosteen, durian, rambutan, garcinia
som khaek ), longon, mango, parkia sataw ) and other plants depending on time of year, a factor helped by good weather and fresh air that, according to the Pollution Control Department, is among the cleanest measured in the country. The village sits at the foot of Khao Luang, the highest mountain in southern Thailand.
But selling fruit alone wasn't enough to make a living, recalled Aree of the years before her group embarked on a programme to produce natural dyes to supplement their meagre income. Back then the average earning of a family was 10,000-30,000 baht earned between August and October, while it sat idled for the rest of the year.
Following a series of natural disasters starting with flooding in 1975 and 1988 and drought in 1996, the villagers decided to switch to something that would allow them stable and sustained income, and where they wouldn't have to rely soely on the weather.
After several rounds of debate and discussion, they settled on something that would make use of local ingenuity,using up to 80% of raw materials available locally and be environmentally friendly,explained Aree.
For start-up capital, the village received 25,000 baht from the Komol Keemthong Foundation."Instead of using plastic ropes to create patterns on cloth, we use bamboo sticks, which come handy when making small patterns such as flowers and leaves, and they can also be reused," she said.
The cloth is put in a basin containing liquid dyes produced from natural materials.
The dyes themselves are made by boiling the leaves or fruit in huge enamel basins for a whole day. Dead mangosteen leaves give off orange colour while fresh ones produce pink shade; bangal almond produces yellowish-green shade; parkia pods give off grey colour; parkia pods boiled with rambutan skins produce dark grey hue; core of jackfruit produces yellow colour; leaves of peka (Oroxylum indicum ) olive green; and seeds of jiringa (nieng ) brown colour.Each piece of cloth is dyed at least three times to ensure colour does not run. The raw materials used to make the dyes are later dried to be used as cooking fuel.
Currently there are 33 families joining the programme, each earning between 3,000 to 7,000 baht a month selling cotton shirts, blouses, pants, tablecloths, bed cover sheets, pillow cases, hats, key chains and bags.
"We will keep experimenting trying to use natural materials to explore new dyes and create fresh designs," said Aree,"to ensure the products we make remain unique to our village."
Located in Lan Saka district, the village of Khiriwong, which was rated the "Best Community Attraction" at the Thailand Tourism Awards in 1998, offers homestay and trekking tours to Khao Luang National Park. Visitors can buy homemade mangosteen wine, soap made from mangosteen skins and various herbs, and preserved durian. August to October is high fruit season.
To get to the village, take a minibus from Talat Yao in Muang district, available between 7am-4pm.Alternatively, you can take Highway 4016 from town and drive onto Highway 4015 to Lan Saka, a distance of about 26 kilometres. The village is at Kilometre 20 marker to your right.
For more information, visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand's web site at www.tourismthailand.org
LARGE-SCALE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE PLANNED FOR CORE INDUSTRIES
The rice-milling, rubber-production and chicken-raising industries are being targeted for new-technology assistance by the Technology Management Centre's Industrial Technology Assistance Programme (iTAP).
Under what is called the iTAP Big Impact scheme, TMC plans to offer its services and funding subsidies to help greater numbers of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the three flagship industries.
TMC's director Chatchanart Theptharanon said the ambitious move was aimed at helping the many SMEs involved in the three vitally important industries to adopt technologies to improve their productivity and save energy.
The industries were chosen because they generated Thailand's core revenue.
The concept of the programme is to use TMC's existing services to help a mass of SMEs rather than providing tailor-made technology assistance for individual organisations.
"iTAP's approach has been continously developed. We began by offering technology assistance on a one-to-one basis, and then with a group-to-group approach and a cluster approacg, until now we think we should scale up this body of knowledge to help core-industry SMEs on a mass scale, with the goal of making a big impact on the country," Chatchanart said.
In the rice-production industry, iTAP will improve the rice-milling process by providing consultancy to farmers on technique. At a pilot plant, the productivity of a rice mill has been increased 20 per cent, along with savings in energy use.
"For rice mills with a capacity of 60 to 120 tonnes per day, we can help them save up to Bt500,000 a year in energy costs. If we can implement our services in all of Thailand's 43,000 rice mills, we can reduce energy costs by up to Bt21 billion a year," Chatchanart said.
Initially, TMC will deploy its rice-milling service through its partner, Khon Kaen University, which will take care of 50 rice mills in the north-eastern region. Then, the programme's coverage will be scaled up through TMC's university networks throughout the country.
In the rubber industry, Chatchanart said iTAP's service was aimed at raising the productivity of the rubber fumigation operation and saving energy costs by improving rubber ovens.
Rubber fumigation with tradition soild ovens can fumigate 1,200 pieces of rubber. Using three ovens, each fumigation operation takes four or five days to complete, usually producing rubber pieces of varying quality and creating the risk of fire.
A new oven designed and developed by TMC reduces the time taken by fumigation to only three days and produces rubber pieces of uniform quality. The risk of fire is eliminated, she said.
In Thailand, there are 660 rubber-fumigation plants, each of them normally requiring three ovens. If all of them adopted the locally developed ovens - about 2,000 ovens for 660 plants - they would save Bt200 million a year in energy costs.
Chatchanart said the beauty of the plan was it would enable 6 million rubber farmers with trees covering 4 million rai to keep their fresh rubber until they had orders or until the price of rubber pieces was high enough for them to sell.
"If we reduce time spent in rubber fumigation, we save up to 40 per cent of the energy used in the process, and the higher quality of the fumigated rubber will help to improve the price.
"From our research, each new oven will raise profits by up to Bt165,000 a year. Importantly, it will also lift revenue from the export of piece-rubber, which is now about Bt70 billion a year, out of the Bt220-billion value of rubber exports," Chatchanart said.
TMC is working with partners, including Walailak University and King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, to pilot the project with the Rubber Plantation Cooperative and Industrial Office in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, by deploying the newly developed oven in a rubber fumigation plant there.
In the chicken-raising industry, the programme plans to install locally made air-control fans in chicken-feeding houses. The 50-inch fans are cheaper than imported models and produce no noise.
Chatchanart said working with King's Mongkut's University of Technology Thon Buri and the Betagro Group, iTAP had developed 50-inch air-control fans that were half the cost of imported models and achieved a 23-per-cent energy saving.
"Normally, each chicken-feeding house requires 10 air-control fans. If all of the 64,000 chiecken-feeding houses in Thailand deployed this technology, the country would save up to Bt1.3 billion a year," Chatchanart said.
The locally made fans will also relieve tension and stress among the chickens because they produce no noise, she said.
"In all these programs, iTAP will provide up to 50 per cent of the total cost of technology deployment but not more than Bt500,000. Up to now, we've helped about 300 SNEs, but we plan to significantly increase those numbers through iTAP Big Impact," she said.
Under what is called the iTAP Big Impact scheme, TMC plans to offer its services and funding subsidies to help greater numbers of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the three flagship industries.
TMC's director Chatchanart Theptharanon said the ambitious move was aimed at helping the many SMEs involved in the three vitally important industries to adopt technologies to improve their productivity and save energy.
The industries were chosen because they generated Thailand's core revenue.
The concept of the programme is to use TMC's existing services to help a mass of SMEs rather than providing tailor-made technology assistance for individual organisations.
"iTAP's approach has been continously developed. We began by offering technology assistance on a one-to-one basis, and then with a group-to-group approach and a cluster approacg, until now we think we should scale up this body of knowledge to help core-industry SMEs on a mass scale, with the goal of making a big impact on the country," Chatchanart said.
In the rice-production industry, iTAP will improve the rice-milling process by providing consultancy to farmers on technique. At a pilot plant, the productivity of a rice mill has been increased 20 per cent, along with savings in energy use.
"For rice mills with a capacity of 60 to 120 tonnes per day, we can help them save up to Bt500,000 a year in energy costs. If we can implement our services in all of Thailand's 43,000 rice mills, we can reduce energy costs by up to Bt21 billion a year," Chatchanart said.
Initially, TMC will deploy its rice-milling service through its partner, Khon Kaen University, which will take care of 50 rice mills in the north-eastern region. Then, the programme's coverage will be scaled up through TMC's university networks throughout the country.
In the rubber industry, Chatchanart said iTAP's service was aimed at raising the productivity of the rubber fumigation operation and saving energy costs by improving rubber ovens.
Rubber fumigation with tradition soild ovens can fumigate 1,200 pieces of rubber. Using three ovens, each fumigation operation takes four or five days to complete, usually producing rubber pieces of varying quality and creating the risk of fire.
A new oven designed and developed by TMC reduces the time taken by fumigation to only three days and produces rubber pieces of uniform quality. The risk of fire is eliminated, she said.
In Thailand, there are 660 rubber-fumigation plants, each of them normally requiring three ovens. If all of them adopted the locally developed ovens - about 2,000 ovens for 660 plants - they would save Bt200 million a year in energy costs.
Chatchanart said the beauty of the plan was it would enable 6 million rubber farmers with trees covering 4 million rai to keep their fresh rubber until they had orders or until the price of rubber pieces was high enough for them to sell.
"If we reduce time spent in rubber fumigation, we save up to 40 per cent of the energy used in the process, and the higher quality of the fumigated rubber will help to improve the price.
"From our research, each new oven will raise profits by up to Bt165,000 a year. Importantly, it will also lift revenue from the export of piece-rubber, which is now about Bt70 billion a year, out of the Bt220-billion value of rubber exports," Chatchanart said.
TMC is working with partners, including Walailak University and King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, to pilot the project with the Rubber Plantation Cooperative and Industrial Office in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, by deploying the newly developed oven in a rubber fumigation plant there.
In the chicken-raising industry, the programme plans to install locally made air-control fans in chicken-feeding houses. The 50-inch fans are cheaper than imported models and produce no noise.
Chatchanart said working with King's Mongkut's University of Technology Thon Buri and the Betagro Group, iTAP had developed 50-inch air-control fans that were half the cost of imported models and achieved a 23-per-cent energy saving.
"Normally, each chicken-feeding house requires 10 air-control fans. If all of the 64,000 chiecken-feeding houses in Thailand deployed this technology, the country would save up to Bt1.3 billion a year," Chatchanart said.
The locally made fans will also relieve tension and stress among the chickens because they produce no noise, she said.
"In all these programs, iTAP will provide up to 50 per cent of the total cost of technology deployment but not more than Bt500,000. Up to now, we've helped about 300 SNEs, but we plan to significantly increase those numbers through iTAP Big Impact," she said.
SELF-SUFFICIENCY FREES FARMERS FROM BAD DEBT
Under a government plan to assist poor farmers using His Majesty's self-sufficiency programme, 80,000 communities are being targeted to become recipients of its training and funding facilities.
So far, 20,000 communities nationwide have qualified for the programme.
Each will receive severall hundred thousand baht, depending on their respective scale, tapping the Bt20-billion scheme.
At a training centre in the outskirts of Nakhon Nayok town, about a two-hour drive from Bangkok, hundreds of farmers attended a seminar last week to learn how the sufficiency economy worked.
They will become part of a dynamic grass-roots movement designed to free them from debt slavery by corrupt corporations and banks.
The scheme is aimed at making small farmers financially independent and protecting them from a highly exploitive system that largely benefits big business and foreign entities.
"The whole idea is to free farmers form the misguided belief they must invest heavily in land, construction, fertilisers and pesticides," said Sumit Champrasit, director of the Sufficiency Economy Office under the Prime Minister's Office.
"All farmers need to do is work on 1 rai of land."
On that 1 rai, they can cultivate rece, breed firsh and shrimp and grow cash crops like papayas, bananas and herbs.
Sumit said the recent longan and lichee scandal and other cash-crop schemes had devastated many rural families, forcing government intervention, which itself was riddled with graft and theft.
"For the past 50 years, we've been programmed by the West, its education and commercial system to embrace ideas that do not work well for markets like Thailand," he agrued.
Under the training programme, farmers are told it is absolutely unnecessary to use imported fertiliser, construct costly air-conditioned breeding houses and buy dangerous pesticides.
Through first-hand experience, one farmer lost Bt40 million after investing in huge tracts of land, purchasing all of the chemicals, farme quipment, feed meal and seeds, only to find out they were costly mistakes.
"Because of the outlay, I had to borrow money from banks and went deep into debt," he says. "When crop prices fell, I went broke and for the last 10 years have been struggling to pay back the loans."
Sumit said that farmer was one of thousands who had been poorly advised and encouraged to take risky positions and adopt Western farming methods that did not work well in Thailand, which for centuries had been a sucessful agricultural producer. While the anti-Western and anti-corporate tone may sound xenophobic at first, the fact is Sumit is only echoing what many respected scientists around the world are now saying: be wary of corporations and their promises of quick profits.
In South American countries like Bolivia and Peru, where potatoes originated some 8,000 years ago, Western horticultural experts have recently announced the huge mistake by countries that support only one strain of spud while destroying hundreds of other types of the crop.
In a BBC expose in the Andes, we are told supermarkets carry only one type of potato, because monopoly is ultimately the end game of big corporations.
The wisdom of having other strains is if one type becomes afflicted with disease, the others will likely survive, and there will be no need for pesticides. But chemical firms would not be ecstatic if such a choice were available.
This week, UK scientists in that country's Agriculture Ministry said the old emphasis of achieving high yield and wmploying huge tracts of land for production was the wrong way to go.
The solution lies in finding ways to farm on smaller plots and use less fertilisers and pesticides - exactly what His Majesty the King's self-suffiency farming programme champions.
Thailand, like all developing countries, has every right to be paranoid aout the intentions of global corporations - and Western governments, if they are not in bed with big business, will agree.
The Grorge Clooney film "Michael Clayton" showed how global executives put profit above public health.
The chilling truth is such movies are based more on fact rather than fiction.
In India, the recent clash between farmers and Monsanto in its attempt to sell rice seed that would forever make farmers completely dependent on the firm for future crops and fertiliser, offended even the most broad-minded supporter of genetically modified foods.
The self-sufficiency idea is in many ways anything but revolutionary. Sumit said all it did was speak bluntly and realistically about the failings of a consumer system that would only ruin unsuspecting farmers. The present global meltdown is a wake-up call to everyone to re-evaluate the sustainability of an immoral market system that insults the very core of capitalist principles.
So far, 20,000 communities nationwide have qualified for the programme.
Each will receive severall hundred thousand baht, depending on their respective scale, tapping the Bt20-billion scheme.
At a training centre in the outskirts of Nakhon Nayok town, about a two-hour drive from Bangkok, hundreds of farmers attended a seminar last week to learn how the sufficiency economy worked.
They will become part of a dynamic grass-roots movement designed to free them from debt slavery by corrupt corporations and banks.
The scheme is aimed at making small farmers financially independent and protecting them from a highly exploitive system that largely benefits big business and foreign entities.
"The whole idea is to free farmers form the misguided belief they must invest heavily in land, construction, fertilisers and pesticides," said Sumit Champrasit, director of the Sufficiency Economy Office under the Prime Minister's Office.
"All farmers need to do is work on 1 rai of land."
On that 1 rai, they can cultivate rece, breed firsh and shrimp and grow cash crops like papayas, bananas and herbs.
Sumit said the recent longan and lichee scandal and other cash-crop schemes had devastated many rural families, forcing government intervention, which itself was riddled with graft and theft.
"For the past 50 years, we've been programmed by the West, its education and commercial system to embrace ideas that do not work well for markets like Thailand," he agrued.
Under the training programme, farmers are told it is absolutely unnecessary to use imported fertiliser, construct costly air-conditioned breeding houses and buy dangerous pesticides.
Through first-hand experience, one farmer lost Bt40 million after investing in huge tracts of land, purchasing all of the chemicals, farme quipment, feed meal and seeds, only to find out they were costly mistakes.
"Because of the outlay, I had to borrow money from banks and went deep into debt," he says. "When crop prices fell, I went broke and for the last 10 years have been struggling to pay back the loans."
Sumit said that farmer was one of thousands who had been poorly advised and encouraged to take risky positions and adopt Western farming methods that did not work well in Thailand, which for centuries had been a sucessful agricultural producer. While the anti-Western and anti-corporate tone may sound xenophobic at first, the fact is Sumit is only echoing what many respected scientists around the world are now saying: be wary of corporations and their promises of quick profits.
In South American countries like Bolivia and Peru, where potatoes originated some 8,000 years ago, Western horticultural experts have recently announced the huge mistake by countries that support only one strain of spud while destroying hundreds of other types of the crop.
In a BBC expose in the Andes, we are told supermarkets carry only one type of potato, because monopoly is ultimately the end game of big corporations.
The wisdom of having other strains is if one type becomes afflicted with disease, the others will likely survive, and there will be no need for pesticides. But chemical firms would not be ecstatic if such a choice were available.
This week, UK scientists in that country's Agriculture Ministry said the old emphasis of achieving high yield and wmploying huge tracts of land for production was the wrong way to go.
The solution lies in finding ways to farm on smaller plots and use less fertilisers and pesticides - exactly what His Majesty the King's self-suffiency farming programme champions.
Thailand, like all developing countries, has every right to be paranoid aout the intentions of global corporations - and Western governments, if they are not in bed with big business, will agree.
The Grorge Clooney film "Michael Clayton" showed how global executives put profit above public health.
The chilling truth is such movies are based more on fact rather than fiction.
In India, the recent clash between farmers and Monsanto in its attempt to sell rice seed that would forever make farmers completely dependent on the firm for future crops and fertiliser, offended even the most broad-minded supporter of genetically modified foods.
The self-sufficiency idea is in many ways anything but revolutionary. Sumit said all it did was speak bluntly and realistically about the failings of a consumer system that would only ruin unsuspecting farmers. The present global meltdown is a wake-up call to everyone to re-evaluate the sustainability of an immoral market system that insults the very core of capitalist principles.
BATIK TO THE FUTURE
Hmong craftswomen |in Chiang Mai revive an ancient art for a brighter tomorrow
For the Hmong people of the North, keeping their traditional art of batik-making alive is a key to survival.
Each piece of cloth, coated in beeswax then dyed with an exquisite design, sells for between Bt1,500 and Bt1,800 at the Doi Pui community in Chiang Mai.
"It takes me at least one week to paint the pattern on each piece," Pra Fuangfukij-jakarn says.
Expertly drawing an intricate design on white cloth, this 58-year-old woman reveals that she has practised the art since the age of seven.
"Our ancestors have passed on the batik-making tradition to younger Hmong for generations. It's a useful money-spinner," Pra explains.
Switching from opium
The Hmong around Doi Pui used to grow opium poppies, says Pra. They switched to farming several decades ago after His Majesty the King visited the area and offered them advice and Bt200,000 to fund the development of their land.
"Since then, my family has grown fruits and vegetables. We've also promoted our village as an eco-tourism destination. That's when we began to focus more on the batik making."
Repertoire of designs
The local artisans have built up a repertoire of more than 100 designs.
"Beginners have to follow traditional patterns but more experienced craftswomen can create their own designs."
The patterns on the fabric are drawn using a small brush and liquid beeswax. The wax-painted fabric is then dipped into indigo dye. As the dye doesn't penetrate the wax, the pattern appears after the wax is removed.
"For a cloth of a metre and a half square, the whole task takes me 15 days," Pra explains.
For the Hmong people of the North, keeping their traditional art of batik-making alive is a key to survival.
Each piece of cloth, coated in beeswax then dyed with an exquisite design, sells for between Bt1,500 and Bt1,800 at the Doi Pui community in Chiang Mai.
"It takes me at least one week to paint the pattern on each piece," Pra Fuangfukij-jakarn says.
Expertly drawing an intricate design on white cloth, this 58-year-old woman reveals that she has practised the art since the age of seven.
"Our ancestors have passed on the batik-making tradition to younger Hmong for generations. It's a useful money-spinner," Pra explains.
Switching from opium
The Hmong around Doi Pui used to grow opium poppies, says Pra. They switched to farming several decades ago after His Majesty the King visited the area and offered them advice and Bt200,000 to fund the development of their land.
"Since then, my family has grown fruits and vegetables. We've also promoted our village as an eco-tourism destination. That's when we began to focus more on the batik making."
Repertoire of designs
The local artisans have built up a repertoire of more than 100 designs.
"Beginners have to follow traditional patterns but more experienced craftswomen can create their own designs."
The patterns on the fabric are drawn using a small brush and liquid beeswax. The wax-painted fabric is then dipped into indigo dye. As the dye doesn't penetrate the wax, the pattern appears after the wax is removed.
"For a cloth of a metre and a half square, the whole task takes me 15 days," Pra explains.
TIPS ON HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN YOU
People are not products but there are ways for you to stand out
Can people be branded?
If you're like most people, you're probably faithful to at least a couple of brands. Maybe it is your favourite brand of rich and tasty ice cream or a particular shampoo that does more for your hair than any other. Certain brands command higher prices than others because they are perceived as superior.
If brands are so powerful that they can bring out such loyalty in us - the kind of loyalty that keeps us reaching into our hearts and our pocketbooks year after year - why shouldn't people be branded? Why can't we, as individuals, evoke that same kind of loyalty in our careers? In fact, think about it: If you were the "brand of choice" in your workplace, what that would it mean in terms of promotions, recognition, and higher pay?
Now, of course, I'm not suggesting that you're a product like a tub of ice cream or a bottle of shampoo. But the truth is that we are all like shampoo because just as shampoo must offer a benefit to improve your hair, you must also offer something of value in business. Otherwise, you're out of luck...or worse, out of a job. Taking charge of your personal brand at work is exactly how you become known for what you have to offer.
The good news is: Personal branding doesn't have to involve advertising yourself in a sandwich sign. It's not all about self-promotion! There are subtle ways you can become known for your greatest strengths and talents.
So, the question isn't whether people can be branded. The real question is: How do you create a personal brand that makes "YOU..." - the trademarked You - the brand of choice in your workplace?
The art of branding yourself
Becoming the brand of choice in your workplace means that your Audience is loyal to YOU... Who is your "Audience?" They are the people who can most impact your work and career. It may be your boss, your clients, or your colleagues. These are the people whose needs you must fulfil in order to set yourself apart as uniquely valuable. Just as a corporate brand must fulfil the needs of its consumers, you must figure out the needs of your audience and focus on meeting those to the best of your ability.
But how do you know that you're meeting your audience's needs and becoming their brand of choice?
In my experience as a marketer, the only way to take a corporate brand to the top is to use a proven step-by-step framework that establishes a brand's position in the marketplace. And this same proven framework works for personal branding, too.
It begins with a Personal Brand Positioning Statement that consists of the same six elements that have been used to create every top-selling corporate brand.
I have already mentioned the first two of the six elements, but what are the remaining four?
- Audience - The people who most affect your career or your job.
- Need - The problems of your audience that you must help resolve.
- Comparison - Others who could also fulfil your audience's needs, and how you can set yourself apart from them.
- Unique strengths - The talents and strengths you bring to the job that make you memorable to your audience.
- Reasons - The credentials and experience that will convince your audience that you can deliver your unique strengths.
- Brand character - The aspects of your personal brand that are unique to your personality.
These six elements fix together like a jigsaw puzzle to carefully define the personal brand you want for yourself and that can help you achieve greater success at work.
If you haven't taken the time to carefully define what you want your specific personal brand to stand for, chances are the people you most want to influence on the job aren't clear about what you stand for either.
How clear are you on who 'YOU...' are?
Have a question for the branding coach? Write to Brenda@BrendaBence.com
Brenda Bence is managing director of Brand Development Associates International. Prior to this, she spent 20 years of her career with Procter & Gamble and Bristol-Myers Squibb managing dozens of brands across four continents and 50 countries.
Can people be branded?
If you're like most people, you're probably faithful to at least a couple of brands. Maybe it is your favourite brand of rich and tasty ice cream or a particular shampoo that does more for your hair than any other. Certain brands command higher prices than others because they are perceived as superior.
If brands are so powerful that they can bring out such loyalty in us - the kind of loyalty that keeps us reaching into our hearts and our pocketbooks year after year - why shouldn't people be branded? Why can't we, as individuals, evoke that same kind of loyalty in our careers? In fact, think about it: If you were the "brand of choice" in your workplace, what that would it mean in terms of promotions, recognition, and higher pay?
Now, of course, I'm not suggesting that you're a product like a tub of ice cream or a bottle of shampoo. But the truth is that we are all like shampoo because just as shampoo must offer a benefit to improve your hair, you must also offer something of value in business. Otherwise, you're out of luck...or worse, out of a job. Taking charge of your personal brand at work is exactly how you become known for what you have to offer.
The good news is: Personal branding doesn't have to involve advertising yourself in a sandwich sign. It's not all about self-promotion! There are subtle ways you can become known for your greatest strengths and talents.
So, the question isn't whether people can be branded. The real question is: How do you create a personal brand that makes "YOU..." - the trademarked You - the brand of choice in your workplace?
The art of branding yourself
Becoming the brand of choice in your workplace means that your Audience is loyal to YOU... Who is your "Audience?" They are the people who can most impact your work and career. It may be your boss, your clients, or your colleagues. These are the people whose needs you must fulfil in order to set yourself apart as uniquely valuable. Just as a corporate brand must fulfil the needs of its consumers, you must figure out the needs of your audience and focus on meeting those to the best of your ability.
But how do you know that you're meeting your audience's needs and becoming their brand of choice?
In my experience as a marketer, the only way to take a corporate brand to the top is to use a proven step-by-step framework that establishes a brand's position in the marketplace. And this same proven framework works for personal branding, too.
It begins with a Personal Brand Positioning Statement that consists of the same six elements that have been used to create every top-selling corporate brand.
I have already mentioned the first two of the six elements, but what are the remaining four?
- Audience - The people who most affect your career or your job.
- Need - The problems of your audience that you must help resolve.
- Comparison - Others who could also fulfil your audience's needs, and how you can set yourself apart from them.
- Unique strengths - The talents and strengths you bring to the job that make you memorable to your audience.
- Reasons - The credentials and experience that will convince your audience that you can deliver your unique strengths.
- Brand character - The aspects of your personal brand that are unique to your personality.
These six elements fix together like a jigsaw puzzle to carefully define the personal brand you want for yourself and that can help you achieve greater success at work.
If you haven't taken the time to carefully define what you want your specific personal brand to stand for, chances are the people you most want to influence on the job aren't clear about what you stand for either.
How clear are you on who 'YOU...' are?
Have a question for the branding coach? Write to Brenda@BrendaBence.com
Brenda Bence is managing director of Brand Development Associates International. Prior to this, she spent 20 years of her career with Procter & Gamble and Bristol-Myers Squibb managing dozens of brands across four continents and 50 countries.
CLINIC PILOT PROJECT TO TARGET RUBBISH, WASTE IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE
Dealing with rubbish and waste management in communities will be the next area of environmental concern targeted by the Clinic Technology project of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The project was set up in 2004, contributing technology and ideas from Thai researchers in the ministry's agencies and academic institutes.
"Most needed technology related to agriculture, food and herbal drugs, and we have given them what they needed," said project manager Suwimon Inthasen. "Our staff has worked onsite for the past five years...to improve their quality of life," she said.
Suwimon expected the latest pilot project, to help people around the country with effective rubbish and waste management problems, to start in some communities in October.
"The ministry and the project's network academic institutes have useful research findings on rubbish and waste management. We're seeking pilot communities, considering which ideas are practical to implement, and considering the budget for this pilot project," Suwimon said.
Local administrative organisations will help the clinic initiate proper management systems.
So far, more than 60,000 people in over 50 provinces nationwide have been educated by 119 clinics in the technology needed to upgrade the quality of their agricultural products and other types of goods.
They include agriculturists, small and medium enterprise (SMEs) and small and micro community enterprise owners, women's groups producing their own products for sale, and local administrative organisations.
"Average budget spent on the project is Bt70 million per year. We contributed technology to 5,800 people during 2004, whereas more than 13,000 people have received it this year," she added.
Patchareeporn Wutitien, a Bangkok SME owner said she had been producing and selling cereal drinks for years. The clinic had helped her upgrade the quality of her drinks and trained her at Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP) - on cleanliness to meet sanitation standards.
"I'm more confident to explain medicinal properties to customers after consulting with lecturers here. The clinic also designed my products' package and trained me in marketing strategies. I learned about safe tools and production. As a result, I can now sell more products," Patchareeporn said.
RMUTP's Assistant Prof Chuta Peeraphatchara, director of the institute of research and development, one of five technology clinics at the university, said they offered training about fabrics, food and handicrafts to people and entrepreneurs.
"We help them study the criteria for product standards from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, and encourage them to improve their products' quality to be good enough to pass the criteria. It will help them increase the number of their customers and make it easier for them to extend their market," Chuta said.
The project was set up in 2004, contributing technology and ideas from Thai researchers in the ministry's agencies and academic institutes.
"Most needed technology related to agriculture, food and herbal drugs, and we have given them what they needed," said project manager Suwimon Inthasen. "Our staff has worked onsite for the past five years...to improve their quality of life," she said.
Suwimon expected the latest pilot project, to help people around the country with effective rubbish and waste management problems, to start in some communities in October.
"The ministry and the project's network academic institutes have useful research findings on rubbish and waste management. We're seeking pilot communities, considering which ideas are practical to implement, and considering the budget for this pilot project," Suwimon said.
Local administrative organisations will help the clinic initiate proper management systems.
So far, more than 60,000 people in over 50 provinces nationwide have been educated by 119 clinics in the technology needed to upgrade the quality of their agricultural products and other types of goods.
They include agriculturists, small and medium enterprise (SMEs) and small and micro community enterprise owners, women's groups producing their own products for sale, and local administrative organisations.
"Average budget spent on the project is Bt70 million per year. We contributed technology to 5,800 people during 2004, whereas more than 13,000 people have received it this year," she added.
Patchareeporn Wutitien, a Bangkok SME owner said she had been producing and selling cereal drinks for years. The clinic had helped her upgrade the quality of her drinks and trained her at Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP) - on cleanliness to meet sanitation standards.
"I'm more confident to explain medicinal properties to customers after consulting with lecturers here. The clinic also designed my products' package and trained me in marketing strategies. I learned about safe tools and production. As a result, I can now sell more products," Patchareeporn said.
RMUTP's Assistant Prof Chuta Peeraphatchara, director of the institute of research and development, one of five technology clinics at the university, said they offered training about fabrics, food and handicrafts to people and entrepreneurs.
"We help them study the criteria for product standards from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute, and encourage them to improve their products' quality to be good enough to pass the criteria. It will help them increase the number of their customers and make it easier for them to extend their market," Chuta said.
Gifts for any occasion
Mother's Day has passed but the gift-hunting mission is still on as the gift-giving seasons are not only restricted to birthdays and special days officially marked on the calendar. Every day can be a special occasion for everyone to offer the gift of love - especially when we come across some nice items and feel the urge to buy them for our loved ones.
And now there's a big fair running at CentralWorld where you are guaranteed to find a variety of quality products from many royal projects, including organic produce, processed foods, Thai desserts, handicrafts,wickerwork and home decorative items such as lovely ceramic pieces and glass sculptures.
This is a good chance to build up your own collection of gifts to give to each of the special persons when the time is right. The recommended items here are from the shops under the management of the Royal Project,including Phu Fah Shop, Chulabhorn Research Institute, the Sai Jai Thai Foundation, the Princess Pa Foundation and Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre.
Not only will you appreciate the distinguished features of the local products and the unique skills of our local folk, you will also find your heart filled with joy while choosing the items for each of the persons in your mind.RT
All items are available during the "Royal Project 40@CentralWorld" which is running at CentralWorld until Aug 16. For more information, call 02-640-7000 ext 1303.
And now there's a big fair running at CentralWorld where you are guaranteed to find a variety of quality products from many royal projects, including organic produce, processed foods, Thai desserts, handicrafts,wickerwork and home decorative items such as lovely ceramic pieces and glass sculptures.
This is a good chance to build up your own collection of gifts to give to each of the special persons when the time is right. The recommended items here are from the shops under the management of the Royal Project,including Phu Fah Shop, Chulabhorn Research Institute, the Sai Jai Thai Foundation, the Princess Pa Foundation and Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre.
Not only will you appreciate the distinguished features of the local products and the unique skills of our local folk, you will also find your heart filled with joy while choosing the items for each of the persons in your mind.RT
All items are available during the "Royal Project 40@CentralWorld" which is running at CentralWorld until Aug 16. For more information, call 02-640-7000 ext 1303.
SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR CORE INDUSTRIES
Software Park Thailand and its parent organisation, the National Science and Technology Development Agency, are working with the Industry Ministry to set up pilot projects using service-based technologies aimed at lifting the performance of Thailand's core industries, tourism agriculture.
Manoo Ordeedolchest, president of Software Park Thailand's board and a member of the NSTDA's board, said the park would fill the role of a technology supporter. Initially, it will help to produce human resources with service-based technology skills, but eventually it will develop a service-based platform called a Digital Connected Service, to work for the two flagship industries.
In part, the move is a bid to drive and promote the local software industry in the new era of a service-based economy. The park plans to be more proactive in promoting and building awareness of service-based technologies among local software businesses.
The key to service-based technology is service-oriented architecture (SOA). There are two main styles of Web services developed by SOA: simple object access protocol (Soap) and representational state transfer (Rest). The goal is to identify component-based software technology that will enable small-and medium-sized software companies to develop software in compenent form, rather than as completed applications or solutions.
One example of a Rest-based SOA is Amazon's affilate network - or, for that matter, any e-commerce affiliate network. Another example of a Rest-based SOA is Google's AdSense network. REST-based SOAs are bound to see much wider adoption throughout the web than Soap-based SOAs.
Manoo said the park planned to promote and build awareness of Rest-based SOAs among local software companies.
"Rest-based SOAs are lightweight SOAs that suit small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They can be designed and developed for easy, uncomplicated tasks. A viral effect is built around this kind of SOA.
"The park will join with universities in promoting this kind of technology through interdisciplinary curricula," he said.
Meanwhile, the park is also planning to launch a social website in the next two months to promote component-based software technology throughout the online community. The website will initially offer 40-50 component software prototypes designed according to REST-based SOA. By the end of this year, it plans to have about 200 component-software pieces available.
"This social website will be designed as a component-software marketplace for both users and developers. Users, especially SMEs, can visit to find the component software they need, by shopping or posting their requirements. Software houses will then have a great channel by which to reach the market - especially SMEs - and will have a chance to learn and work on SOA," Manoo said.
As well, Software Park Thailand will introduce its Digital Connected Service, which it hopes will apply the principles of current popular social networks to the real industryh sectors.
The park will work with partners to integrate the social network technology and Web 2.0 with "last mile" communication channels such as community radio, to deliver information and services to agricultural producers and tourism businesses in remote areas.
"This pilot will be a trial for integration and use of advance technology - Web 2.0 - and traditional communication - community radio channels. It will not only prove the concept of blending these technologies to help lift up the country's core real sectors, but also create new market opportunities for local software businesses," Manoo said.
Manoo Ordeedolchest, president of Software Park Thailand's board and a member of the NSTDA's board, said the park would fill the role of a technology supporter. Initially, it will help to produce human resources with service-based technology skills, but eventually it will develop a service-based platform called a Digital Connected Service, to work for the two flagship industries.
In part, the move is a bid to drive and promote the local software industry in the new era of a service-based economy. The park plans to be more proactive in promoting and building awareness of service-based technologies among local software businesses.
The key to service-based technology is service-oriented architecture (SOA). There are two main styles of Web services developed by SOA: simple object access protocol (Soap) and representational state transfer (Rest). The goal is to identify component-based software technology that will enable small-and medium-sized software companies to develop software in compenent form, rather than as completed applications or solutions.
One example of a Rest-based SOA is Amazon's affilate network - or, for that matter, any e-commerce affiliate network. Another example of a Rest-based SOA is Google's AdSense network. REST-based SOAs are bound to see much wider adoption throughout the web than Soap-based SOAs.
Manoo said the park planned to promote and build awareness of Rest-based SOAs among local software companies.
"Rest-based SOAs are lightweight SOAs that suit small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They can be designed and developed for easy, uncomplicated tasks. A viral effect is built around this kind of SOA.
"The park will join with universities in promoting this kind of technology through interdisciplinary curricula," he said.
Meanwhile, the park is also planning to launch a social website in the next two months to promote component-based software technology throughout the online community. The website will initially offer 40-50 component software prototypes designed according to REST-based SOA. By the end of this year, it plans to have about 200 component-software pieces available.
"This social website will be designed as a component-software marketplace for both users and developers. Users, especially SMEs, can visit to find the component software they need, by shopping or posting their requirements. Software houses will then have a great channel by which to reach the market - especially SMEs - and will have a chance to learn and work on SOA," Manoo said.
As well, Software Park Thailand will introduce its Digital Connected Service, which it hopes will apply the principles of current popular social networks to the real industryh sectors.
The park will work with partners to integrate the social network technology and Web 2.0 with "last mile" communication channels such as community radio, to deliver information and services to agricultural producers and tourism businesses in remote areas.
"This pilot will be a trial for integration and use of advance technology - Web 2.0 - and traditional communication - community radio channels. It will not only prove the concept of blending these technologies to help lift up the country's core real sectors, but also create new market opportunities for local software businesses," Manoo said.
Thai silk in the AEM spotlight
Asean trade and industry ministers will receive special silk mementoes during the 41st Asean Economics Ministers(AEM) Meeting that runs from today to Sunday in Bangkok.
The move is part of the plan to promote the Kingdom as a regional handmade-silk hub.
For the male delegates, the Commerce Ministry has prepared silk bathrobes with their names embroidered on them, while the ladies will receive a silk shawl, also with their names on them.
These souvenirs have been produced by popular silk clesigner Jim Thompson.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will also highlight the elegance of Thai silk through specially desiged shirts to be worn during today's opening ceremony at the Asean Fashion Plus Trade Fair.
This silk will be from the Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre, which was founded by Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit on December 7, 1984.
In addition, silk designs will be made for the national dress of all 10 Asean members and six trading partners participate in the AEM Meeting.
Trade and Industry ministers from Asean and six trading partners-China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia-will be invited to participate in the opening ceremony. They have been asked to submit samples of their national attire, and as Asean fashion show will be one of the programme highlights.
This activity will help serve as a showcase for Thailand's readiness to serve as a regional hub for fashion and silk products.
Delegates will aslso be invited to visit the Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair 2009 at Muang Thong Thani's Impact Exhibition Centre, which coincides with the AEM Meeting.
And on Saturday, they will attend a gala dinner at the Royal Navy Convention Centre.
Led by Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, lady ministers from Asean will take to the catwalk and model Thaisilk apparel by local designers.
The AEM Meeting will be a good opportunity for the Kingdom to promote Thai silk as a premium-grade-fabric with multiple uses in daily life. Having Asean ministers wear clothing madel Thaisilk apparel by local designers.
The AEM Meeting will be a good opportunity for the Kingdom to promote Thai silk as a premium-grade fabric with multiple uses in daily life. Having Asean ministers wear clothing made from Thai silk will also be good advertising.
The move is part of the plan to promote the Kingdom as a regional handmade-silk hub.
For the male delegates, the Commerce Ministry has prepared silk bathrobes with their names embroidered on them, while the ladies will receive a silk shawl, also with their names on them.
These souvenirs have been produced by popular silk clesigner Jim Thompson.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will also highlight the elegance of Thai silk through specially desiged shirts to be worn during today's opening ceremony at the Asean Fashion Plus Trade Fair.
This silk will be from the Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre, which was founded by Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit on December 7, 1984.
In addition, silk designs will be made for the national dress of all 10 Asean members and six trading partners participate in the AEM Meeting.
Trade and Industry ministers from Asean and six trading partners-China, Japan, South Korea, India, New Zealand and Australia-will be invited to participate in the opening ceremony. They have been asked to submit samples of their national attire, and as Asean fashion show will be one of the programme highlights.
This activity will help serve as a showcase for Thailand's readiness to serve as a regional hub for fashion and silk products.
Delegates will aslso be invited to visit the Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair 2009 at Muang Thong Thani's Impact Exhibition Centre, which coincides with the AEM Meeting.
And on Saturday, they will attend a gala dinner at the Royal Navy Convention Centre.
Led by Thai Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, lady ministers from Asean will take to the catwalk and model Thaisilk apparel by local designers.
The AEM Meeting will be a good opportunity for the Kingdom to promote Thai silk as a premium-grade-fabric with multiple uses in daily life. Having Asean ministers wear clothing madel Thaisilk apparel by local designers.
The AEM Meeting will be a good opportunity for the Kingdom to promote Thai silk as a premium-grade fabric with multiple uses in daily life. Having Asean ministers wear clothing made from Thai silk will also be good advertising.
Arts of the Kingdom
No idea where to take your beloved mother to on Mother's Day today? Visit "The Arts of the Kingdom V" exhibition at the Ananta Samakom Throne Hall, Dusit Palace.
FROM LEFT - The Gold Niello Bhudthan Throne - The Sri Suphannahongse Royal Barge - The Gold Damascene Bhudthan Throne.
The exhibition features exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts that reflect decades of work initiated under the Support Foundation (Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques) of HM the Queen.
The highlights include a model of the Sri Suphannahongse Royal Barge, Busabok Chaturamook Bhiman Throne, the Gold Niello Bhudthan Throne, the Gold Damascene Bhudthan Throne, Sivikakarn (covered palanquin), an embroidered Himavan Forest Screen and an octagonal-shaped room decorated with beetle wings.
The exhibition is free (on Mother's Day only) and is open to the public and is open from 10am to 6pm. Appropriate attire is required.
Call 08-1904-1000.
Sivikakarn.
FROM LEFT - The Gold Niello Bhudthan Throne - The Sri Suphannahongse Royal Barge - The Gold Damascene Bhudthan Throne.
The exhibition features exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts that reflect decades of work initiated under the Support Foundation (Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques) of HM the Queen.
The highlights include a model of the Sri Suphannahongse Royal Barge, Busabok Chaturamook Bhiman Throne, the Gold Niello Bhudthan Throne, the Gold Damascene Bhudthan Throne, Sivikakarn (covered palanquin), an embroidered Himavan Forest Screen and an octagonal-shaped room decorated with beetle wings.
The exhibition is free (on Mother's Day only) and is open to the public and is open from 10am to 6pm. Appropriate attire is required.
Call 08-1904-1000.
Sivikakarn.
HM the King in great shape, says Queen
Her Majesty the Queen says His Majesty the King is hale and hearty and remains dedicated to working for the good of his people.
The Queen yesterday talked about the King's health during her birthday address to a gathering of cabinet ministers, senior government officials and members of the public who went to the Dusitdalai Pavilion inside the Chitralada Palace to wish her well on the eve of her 77th birthday today.
She was accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and other members of the royal family
The Queen said the King now lived at Klai Klang Won Palace in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district where he benefitted from a healthful climate.
The King is healthy, exercises regularly by walking and can perform his duties such as receiving foreign guests and inspecting royal projects in Hua Hin, the Queen said.
She said it is now impossible for the King to work as hard as he did decades ago when he was strong and vigorous,although he has always followed the progress of projects to help ease the plight of the people, particularly measures to deal with floods.
"His Majesty cares very much about his people. He is concerned about flooding and is looking for ways to prevent it," the Queen said.
She said in the past when the King travelled long distances to visit people in remote rural areas, he always drove himself and carried maps wherever he went to examine geographical details.
His Majesty visited people in all regions of the country to see for himself their hardships so he could think of ways to help them according to their varying needs.
His Majesty has initiated more than 3,000 royal projects aimed at improving the livelihood of people in all regions and has continued to work for the good of the people for almost 60 years.
"His Majesty said he was delighted when he learned his people were happy,"the Queen said.
The Queen also spoke about a project to make artificial reefs off the coast in Pattani's Mai Kaen district.
The project was introduced after local people complained to Her Majesty about depleted fish stocks in the sea.
She said the project had now become a success and the artificial reefs were home to an abundance of marine life with rare fish species beginning to reappear.
Her Majesty asked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the relevant government agencies to support the project to create artificial reefs in other provinces in the South.
She also talked about the nutritional value of rice which is widely recognised and urged more consumption of the grain.
At one point of her hour-long speech,the Queen praised villagers for their remarkable artistic skills in making exquisite traditional handicrafts which are now on show at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.
The Queen said the handicrafts were described by foreign visitors as "worldclass".
The Queen yesterday talked about the King's health during her birthday address to a gathering of cabinet ministers, senior government officials and members of the public who went to the Dusitdalai Pavilion inside the Chitralada Palace to wish her well on the eve of her 77th birthday today.
She was accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and other members of the royal family
The Queen said the King now lived at Klai Klang Won Palace in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district where he benefitted from a healthful climate.
The King is healthy, exercises regularly by walking and can perform his duties such as receiving foreign guests and inspecting royal projects in Hua Hin, the Queen said.
She said it is now impossible for the King to work as hard as he did decades ago when he was strong and vigorous,although he has always followed the progress of projects to help ease the plight of the people, particularly measures to deal with floods.
"His Majesty cares very much about his people. He is concerned about flooding and is looking for ways to prevent it," the Queen said.
She said in the past when the King travelled long distances to visit people in remote rural areas, he always drove himself and carried maps wherever he went to examine geographical details.
His Majesty visited people in all regions of the country to see for himself their hardships so he could think of ways to help them according to their varying needs.
His Majesty has initiated more than 3,000 royal projects aimed at improving the livelihood of people in all regions and has continued to work for the good of the people for almost 60 years.
"His Majesty said he was delighted when he learned his people were happy,"the Queen said.
The Queen also spoke about a project to make artificial reefs off the coast in Pattani's Mai Kaen district.
The project was introduced after local people complained to Her Majesty about depleted fish stocks in the sea.
She said the project had now become a success and the artificial reefs were home to an abundance of marine life with rare fish species beginning to reappear.
Her Majesty asked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the relevant government agencies to support the project to create artificial reefs in other provinces in the South.
She also talked about the nutritional value of rice which is widely recognised and urged more consumption of the grain.
At one point of her hour-long speech,the Queen praised villagers for their remarkable artistic skills in making exquisite traditional handicrafts which are now on show at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.
The Queen said the handicrafts were described by foreign visitors as "worldclass".
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