A meeting was held on the 9th March 2009 at the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss the feasibility to form an industrial automation grouping.

The meeting was facilitated by Khun (Mr) Chanin Kaochan, director of BUILD, also known as BOI Unit for Industrial Linkage Development, together with leaders of the Alliance For Supporting Industries Association, which comprise of 13 major NGOS; Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association, Thai Machinery Association, Thai Tool and Die Industry Association, The Association of Thai Software Industry, Thai Foundrymen’s Society, Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association, Thai Embedded Systems Association, Hazardous Substances Logistics Association, Thai Plastic Industries Association, Thai Logistics and Production Society, Association for the Promotion of Thai Small and Medium Enterpreneurs, Thai Composites Association, and Green Shop Air Condition.

Mr Benny Yeo, President & Founder of IA-Community, was specially invited to address the crowd, making a detailed presentation, Mr Yeo pointed out that Thailand has been a great potential for the development of industrial automation sector due to its vast resources, strong presence of subcontractors, highly skilled human resource, huge domestic market, etc. He briefed the audience on how the Automation Technology Industry Group (ATIG) was being formed by the Singapore Manufacturers Federation (SMa Federation) in Year 2000, and in the Year 2003, a similar grouping by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). Stressing on the importance to support the various vertical groupings under the alliance, Mr Yeo further highlighted that a horizontal platform such as the Industrial Automation should be formed, and linking to similar groupings in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

After a brainstorming session between the leaders present during the meeting, it was decided that the Industrial Automation Club to be formed by members of the alliance and the industry, while IA-Community will play an important role to further promote the grouping through its holistic media platform.

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Courtesy of IA-Community