EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003268 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR JBOCKLAGE AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR PZARESK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - OCTOBER 2008 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) Officials from Thailand and Vietnam attended the Ninth International Export Control Conference in Croatia, Oct. 20-22. The EXBS program co-sponsored an Industry-Government Outreach Seminar with the Ministry of Commerce on Oct. 22. The ASEAN regional UN 1540 Workshop in Bangkok, scheduled for 27-31 October, was postponed. Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) will conduct an Interagency Relations and Infrastructure Workshop in Bangkok, Nov. 3-5. Advisor, Program Assistant and Thai and Vietnamese officials will attend the Export Control Academy in Athens, GA, Nov. 10-14. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Advisor met with European Union (EU) and Norwegian counterparts on Oct. 7 to discuss preparations for the UNSCR 1540 Implementation Workshop scheduled for Oct. 27-31 in Bangkok. The EU and Norway were to be cosponsors of the conference with the U.S. Advisor also met with U.N. Conference Center staff on Oct. 16, after the previous week's meeting was cancelled due to political demonstrations in the vicinity. After the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA),the workshop's sponsor, decided that the conference would have to be held at an alternate location, it was ultimately postponed for administrative reasons. The U.S. 1540 Coordinator continues to work with UNODA to reschedule the event. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶3. (U) Three officials each from Thailand and Vietnam attended the Ninth International Export Control Conference in Croatia, Oct. 20-22. Feedback upon their return was very positive. ¶4. (U) The EXBS program co-sponsored an Industry-Government Outreach Seminar with the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce on Oct. 22. Presentations were organized by instructors from the Department of Energy's International Nonproliferation and Export Control Program (INECP). This was the second such event held in Thailand, the first being a seminar organized with the Japanese embassy (oriented towards Japanese firms) last year. Over 130 firms attended. Feedback was very positive, with the majority of respondents indicating a significant increase in understanding of strategic trade management, and a desire to be kept informed of future developments. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) None. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶6. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) will conduct an Interagency Relations and Infrastructure Workshop in Bangkok, Nov. 3-5. Representatives of twelve government agencies and industry associations will attend. The Thai Ministry of Commerce will lead an ad hoc meeting of the Export Control Working Group to discuss the way ahead at the conclusion of the workshop. EXBS Advisor, Vietnam Program Assistant and Thai and Vietnamese officials will attend the Export Control Academy at the University of Georgia, Nov. 10-14. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) None. JOHN