EEC Collaborates with Alibaba Group to Promote Thai Products and Tourism Globally While Developing Thai Entrepreneurs

          The Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alibaba Group covering cooperation in four areas:

  • Utilizing e-commerce for exporting agricultural products and OTOP, starting with rice and durian.
  • Developing small and medium-sized enterprises to enable them to use e-commerce as a marketing channel.
  • Using digital platforms to promote tourism, especially targeting Chinese tourists, to secondary cities and communities systematically, particularly by making information about Thai shops and restaurants easily accessible on digital platforms.
  • Investing in a Smart Digital Hub for global e-commerce trade with countries in the region.

          Mr. Kanit Sangsuphan Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee stated, "The signing of this memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alibaba Group, which consists of two agreements, is a success for the government and related agencies in negotiating to reach a cooperation agreement that benefits various groups in Thailand, including farmers and small and medium-sized Thai entrepreneurs, domestic e-commerce operators, and new entrepreneurs who will bring products to the global market."

          The memorandum of understanding between EECO and Alibaba Group consists of two agreements, which include the following:

  1. Cooperation in trade, investment, and economic promotion between EECO and Alibaba.com Singapore E-commerce Private Limited This MOU serves as a framework for cooperation covering the export of agricultural products and other Thai goods to the global market using Alibaba's platform, developing the capabilities of Thai entrepreneurs in e-commerce, and promoting tourism, especially community and secondary city tourism. Alibaba has also expressed its intention to invest in a Smart Digital Hub in the EEC in this MOU.
  1. Cooperation in investing in a Smart Digital Hub in the EEC between EECO, the Customs Department, and Cainiao Smart Logistic Network Hong Kong Limited Alibaba Group. Cainiao will invest approximately 11 billion baht in developing the Smart Digital Hub starting this year and will collaborate to develop knowledge in international e-commerce management, logistics systems, customs procedures, and regulatory frameworks that Alibaba and Cainiao are experts in, while also establishing a universal operational system with the Thai Customs Department to support e-commerce entering the global market more effectively according to global standards. This investment in the Smart Digital Hub will create immense opportunities for Thailand and play a crucial role in promoting trade in the CLMVT region.

          Additionally, Alibaba Group has signed two more memorandums of understanding with other agencies, including cooperation in developing SMEs and digital personnel between the Department of Industrial Promotion, the Department of International Trade Promotion, and Alibaba Business School to share knowledge and technology with Thai entrepreneurs in various sectors, including farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises. Alibaba aims to train at least 30,000 people per year, enhancing the competitive potential of Thais in an era where e-commerce will become increasingly important in the future.

          Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding has been signed for cooperation in tourism through digital means and promoting tourism in secondary cities between the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Zhejiang Fliggy Network Technology Company Limited (formerly known as Alitrip) to serve as a platform for facilitating hotel bookings, travel ticket purchases, and tour sales worldwide through Alibaba, which will contribute to promoting tourism from around the world to Thailand.

          Mr. Kanit concluded, "The cooperation established in this agreement with Alibaba Group will mark a new era for businesses entering the global market through digital trade, which will significantly transform business processes and trade in Thailand, enabling Thai entrepreneurs, including Thai farmers, to enhance their potential in bringing products and services to the global market effectively through e-commerce platforms in the future without limitations. This may lead to tangible development in line with the Thailand 4.0 policy. However, this agreement is non-exclusive, allowing other operators to engage in similar collaborations, which may increase in the future."

Thank you for the information from www.eeco.or.th