The SME Bank is preparing to organize the biggest event of the year, “THAI SME-GP DAY 2024″, on 26-28 Sept., which will include 160 booths of SME products and services, expanding opportunities to enter the public and private markets, sources of funding, along with knowledge of government procurement, creating opportunities for SMEs to grow strongly and sustainably.
Ms. Panita Shinawatra, Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), said that OSMEP has collaborated with the Comptroller General’s Department to implement measures to support SMEs in accessing government procurement under the Ministerial Regulation on Supplies and Methods for Procurement of Supplies that the State Wants to Promote or Support (No. 2) B.E. 2563 since the end of 2563 onwards to create opportunities for SMEs to enter the government market worth no less than 1.3-1.5 trillion baht per year by providing benefits to SMEs that register THAI SME-GP with OSMEP in the form of a competi
tive edge of no more than 10 percent. If THAI SME-GP entrepreneurs sell products certified as Made in Thailand by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), they will receive a edge of no more than 15 percent. As for procurements with a budget not exceeding 500,000 baht, government agencies should consider procuring from SME entrepreneurs first. Such benefits have continuously helped create opportunities for SMEs.
Currently (figures as of 13 September 2024), there are 164,327 SME entrepreneurs registered with THAI SME-GP nationwide, with a total of 1,217,146 products and services. The results of creating opportunities for SMEs under the measures found that government agencies have been procuring products from SMEs in an increasing proportion. The latest in 2023 was worth 558,064 million baht, accounting for 43.86 percent of the total procurement value. At the same time, in order to prepare and develop SMEs to have the potential to enter the market, the OSMEP has implemented the MSME Support Project with SME-GP
since 2021 until now.
For the year 2024, OSMEP has developed its potential to prepare SMEs nationwide, both in the general business group and the focused business group, especially the medical equipment and devices group, with the development of more than 1,300 SMEs. In order to expand marketing opportunities for SMEs that have been developed and those with potential products/services, OSMEP has organized an activity to connect partners to create opportunities for SMEs to enter the public/private sector markets, or THAI SME-GP DAY 2024, which is scheduled to be a grand annual event for Thai SMEs, scheduled to be held from September 26-28 at Hall 5, Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition and Convention Center,” said the Acting Director of OSMEP.
For the THAI SME-GP DAY 2024 event, the objective is to connect SME entrepreneurs who are sellers of products/services to meet buyers from both government and private sectors to create opportunities for market expansion. At the same time, it is also a channel to help cr
eate knowledge and practices in correct procurement for personnel in government agencies and the private sector to perform their duties efficiently and safely from being inspected. The event will have important activities such as
1) THAI SME-GP, an area to showcase the results of the measures, knowledge information on government procurement, THAI SME-GP registration, including exhibitions of agencies that have received certificates of honor for being high-level supporters of SME products/services.
2) OSMEP Pavilion, an area that collects OSMEP services for SMEs, such as SME One ID registration, business health checks. And check the level of GREEN entrepreneurs, business consultants, SME Pang Tang Dai Kuen measures, and various service platforms of the SME Bank.
3) SME product/service exhibition area, totaling 160 booths, especially product groups that have received interest from the government and private markets, including a Show Case area presenting outstanding SME products/services.
4) SME promotion ne
twork area that showcases the work of partner agencies that support SMEs entering the government market, including government and private financial institutions that come to provide loans for SMEs.
5) Total Solution, an area presenting IT products, both hardware, software, and related services.
6) The main stage is an area for presenting seminars/special lectures on topics related to government procurement, the needs of large buyers, doing business in the modern era, as well as entertainment activities such as mini-concerts by Palmy, J Jetrin, Kong Huayrai, and fun activities to win many prizes.
In addition, the event will feature a ceremony to present certificates of honor to state agencies in the central and regional areas that have high levels of procurement of SME products and services, and financial institutions that are an important mechanism in supporting funds to enter the market.
Source: Thai News Agency