Science and Technology National Park to be established in Thailand

The Royal Thai Government has approved a project to establish a Science and Technology National Park in Northern Thailand, one of whose main  objectives will be to improve the design and development of locally- made products for sale to visitors.

The project, proposed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, will facilitate economic growth in Northern Thailand and foster its social and cultural linkages with the neighbouring Greater Mekong subregion countries (China’s Yunnan province, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia).

The Park, to be set up in Chiang Mai, will act as an incubation centre for the development of innovative technologies, especially local technologies, and human resources development. It is expected to be ready by 2006.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan said the research and development carried out at the park will be of particular benefit to Thailand’s well-acclaimed One Tambon One Product (OTOP) scheme.

The OTOP scheme is helping hundreds of villages develop unique products that are being marketed through intensive use of information technology to visitors and exported abroad, creating jobs in local communities and boosting visitor expenditure, with virtually no leakage of foreign exchange.

TAT is coordinating with inbound tour operators to include the OTOP City event, held annually in December at Muang Thong Thani convention and exhibition complex, in their tour programmes in order to boost shopping by visitors. TAT overseas offices are also coordinating with tour operators in their respective areas to include visits to the OTOP City during their stay.

The OTOP City 2003 was a highly successful event. “Now, the work that will be done by the Science and Technology National Park will further help improve the design, quality and manufacturing processes of these products,” said Mrs. Juthamas.

The project is expected to help generate 300 million baht a year for suppliers of OTOP products in northern Thailand and help more than 500 existing and new small and medium-sized businesses.