REGIONAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE ON LOGISTICS BRINGS TOGETHER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CHIANG MAI 000052 SIPDIS SIPDIS EEB/CBA (DENNIS WINSTEAD) EEB/EX STATE PASS USTR AND USTDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ELTN ECIN ETRD EWWT PREL TH BM CH LA CB MY SUBJECT: REGIONAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE ON LOGISTICS BRINGS TOGETHER U.S. AND MEKONG REGION BUSINESSES CHIANG MAI 00000052 001.2 OF 003 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. In an effort to promote development in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) logistics and transportation sectors and to underscore U.S. interest in deepening investment in the region, post hosted a conference on March 18-19 bringing together public and private sector representatives from across the GMS. Speakers reported on current trends in logistics development in the Asian Development Bank's GMS project and discussed the challenges ahead. The participation of several U.S. firms highlighted our interest in economic development in the GMS and provided an opportunity for those companies to promote themselves to a regional audience. End summary. ¶2. The Asian Development Bank's GMS program is an infrastructure development project that seeks to expand trade through a network of highways. Northern Thailand is situated at the crossroads of the two main routes, the North-South and East-West corridors. As a result, the northern provinces of Thailand have the unique potential to develop into a logistics and transportation hub for regional trade. ¶3. To help explore these concepts, ConGen organized a regional business conference on "Logistics Development in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Managing Trade and Expanding Markets" on March 18-19. The event helped highlight the 175th anniversary of U.S.-Thai diplomatic relations, which was celebrated the same week. The conference was made possible thanks to financial support from the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) and the United Parcel Service (UPS),as well as assistance from Embassies Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Consulates General Chengdu and Guangzhou. With speakers and participants from China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and the United States, the conference was an opportunity for regionally-based firms in the logistics, transportation, and supply chain sectors not only to learn about current trends in the Asian Development Bank-backed Greater Mekong Subregion project, but also to network with one another with the goal of developing a sophisticated, domestic logistics sector. The presence of American companies, such as co-sponsor UPS, helped to highlight how U.S. business can also play an active role in the development of this region. -------------- -------------- Ambassador, Transportation PermSec Open Conference -------------- -------------- ¶4. Ambassador Eric John opened the conference with a speech citing the strong trade and investment relationship between the U.S. and Thailand and calling for stronger links in logistics and transportation. He also acknowledged the growing economic presence of China in Asia and quoted Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill saying that "more China doesn't mean less of the U.S." in Southeast Asia. The Ambassador noted that transportation costs in Thailand are well above the average for countries in the region, a reminder that Thailand has the potential to make its trading network more cost-effective and efficient. ¶5. Ministry of Transportation Permanent Secretary Chaisawasdi Kittipornpaiboon emphasized the importance of implementing an efficient highway management system and international supply chain through Thailand. He predicted that Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai will be the provinces which benefit the greatest from the GMS project and the new Mekong river port at Chiang Saen expected to be completed by 2011. The Permanent Secretary argued that Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai should be at the forefront of trade and tourism growth in the GMS. While the Permanent Secretary praised the development of the GMS infrastructure, he SIPDIS acknowledged that Thailand is still struggling with utilization of the roads and bridges. He cited that although it takes only three years to construct a new road or bridge, it takes at least six more years to implement using the infrastructure. -------------- Regional Speakers Gather in Chiang Mai -------------- ¶6. BFIF support brought together over 20 speakers and panel moderators from the GMS to discuss and debate current trends in logistics development. Asian Development Bank Thailand Country Director Jean-Pierre Verbiest provided participants with an overview of logistics development from the perspective of the CHIANG MAI 00000052 002.2 OF 003 GMS project's funding source, the ADB. Presentations from the Thai and Chinese governments on logistics trends in those countries complemented the ADB's presentation. Representatives of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and UTI, an American logistics firm operating in Thailand, reported on how they applied lessons learned from management of trade across the Thai-Malaysian border. ¶7. The conference also hosted three panel sessions. The first panel on "Transportation and Customs" included speakers from the Thai Ministry of Transportation, the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, TNT Express Worldwide, and UPS. Panelists' presentations showed the contrast between the public sector's focus on infrastructure development and the private sector's demand for a streamlining and sophistication of regulations, logistics, and customs. A second panel led by American Chamber of Commerce member firms UPS, TNT Express, and UTI highlighted international best practices in logistics and supply chain management and provided an opportunity for American firms to promote themselves to local producers and business leaders. A third panel on the "Expanding GMS Market" underscored the economic potential in some of the peripheral markets of the region, including Cambodia, upper northern Thailand, and Guangxi province in China. -------------- Participants Take the Stage -------------- ¶8. Over 170 participants and observers from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and China joined this conference, which was hosted at the Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai. Of these, the majority were local Thai businesses including manufacturing firms, logistics companies, and freight forwarders. Other participants included representatives of academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and members of the RTG, including the Bank of Thailand. During the UPS-sponsored lunch and reception, participants had the opportunity to network with one another and establish links both regionally and across these various sectors. ¶9. During the second day of the conference, participants shared their own perspectives on logistics and GMS-related developments. The approximately 100 participants who joined on March 19 separated into four workshops on human resource development, supply chain management, building a business network, and tourism and services. Each workshop, under the moderation of a local business leader or academic, led participants through case studies and discussion questions on the group's respective topic. Each group was asked to compile tasks that businesses, governments, or other interested parties could pursue in the months following the conference. Each moderator shared their workshops' tasks with the full plenary before the conference's closing. (See para. 10 for workshop's recommendations.) -------------- Looking Ahead -------------- ¶10. The four workshops concluded with each moderator briefing the full plenary with suggested tasks for the future. All four groups supported the idea of building a GMS center in northern Thailand to serve as a training center, logistics hub, and convention hall for trade shows. The workshops agreed that a lack of information and sense of community among all parties in the GMS is an obstacle that a major hub could help overcome. The Supply Chain Management workshop also raised concerns about impacts of the GMS on farmers, who participants called "the origin" of the agricultural supply chain. The Tourism and Services group also pointed out that China's impact on Mekong River water levels is an obstacle to the development of tourism along the river. ¶11. The conference concluded with a speech by Embassy Bangkok Counselor for Economic Affairs Robert Griffiths who emphasized that, with speakers from the public and private sectors and participants from across the GMS and southeast Asia, the conference was an opportunity to make "new friends and build up relationships that will be useful in the future." -------------- Reactions -------------- CHIANG MAI 00000052 003.2 OF 003 ¶12. ADB Thailand Country Director Jean-Pierre Verbiest told EconCouns that of the many Greater Mekong Subregion conferences he has attended, this one was "the best one I ever attended," referencing especially the joining of private and public sector actors for a lively dialogue. Press coverage by local daily print and broadcast media also highlighted the significance of the conference for the region. ¶13. With about 180 participants at the opening, this two-day conference maintained over 100 attendees until the closing session on the second day. About half of the participants completed and submitted survey forms on the second day, rating almost every session a score of 3 or better on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 meaning "needs improvement" and 5 meaning "excellent." ¶14. One participant noted on a survey that the conference "provided opportunities to the private sector to bring up their concerns to other parties." Another wrote that the management of the conference was excellent, especially the multi-national approach of the panels. All participants expressed the view that the conference was useful for business planning and research in some way. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶15. Post greatly appreciates the Department's support of this conference through the BFIF program. The United Parcel Service (UPS) also supported the conference with funding for a lunch and evening reception. Support from BFIF and UPS was essential for the conference's success. Post would also like to express its gratitude to the U.S. Commercial Service office of Embassy Bangkok for its expert guidance during the planning of this event. In addition, post relied upon Embassies Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Consulates General Chengdu and Guangzhou for providing excellent speakers who contributed to the conference's lively panels and networking sessions. Post greatly appreciates the support of these neighboring embassies and consulates. ¶16. In addition to strengthening the network of regional public and private sector actors interested in the GMS program, the conference helped forge relationships between the U.S. and these parties in the region. The conference offered the opportunity for local governments, businesses, and NGOs to understand that the U.S. remains active in Southeast Asia, in particular in economic development. Participation from American firms such as UPS underscored that the U.S. is interested and enthusiastic about deepening economic ties with the region. To reemphasize U.S. interest in Mekong regional development, post plans to follow up with conference participants in six months to inquire about the impact of the event on their businesses. End comment. MORROW