CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview of SMEs in Thailand
In economy, mostly of new employment is generated by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more than larger firms. Moreover, SMEs also create technology innovation of new products and services, which contribute to the economic growth of the country. Although before the year 1997 the government recognized the importance of Thai SMEs development strategies and direction have not been clearly identified. Therefore, since severe economic crisis (i.e., Tom Yum Kung disease) in 1997, thousands of Thai SMEs have gone bankrupt and so dropped out of the Thai economy each year until now in 2008, the economic crisis occurs again; Thai Government has seriously reviewed and formulates direction for Thai SMEs development. Ministry of Industry undertook the formulation of Thai SMEs Development. It is hope that the developments of Thai SMEs especially industrial sector with play and important role in economic will go towards the same direction.
1.2 Role and Important of SMEs in Thailand
Presently, Thailand business/industry sector composes of approximately 950,000 enterprises and more than 99.7 percent of them are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (APEC Center of Technology Exchange and Training) which employing less than 200 personnel staffs and has less than 200 million baht of fixed asset. It is expected that there is 40 percent of total enterprises are small and not registered firms.
In Thailand industrial sector, half of workers and 60 percent of new employment, after economic crisis in 1997 until now in 2008 are from Thai SMEs. Approximately 30 percent of Thai enterprises rely on export market. And Thai large expor ...