2 September 2010
Weekly Edition Volume 1 Issue - 37  

Thai government to push National GDP contribution of Creative Economy to 20% by 2012;

- Fosters international business alliances at ACE & VC Forum 2010

BY AMRITA VALECHA & CHAITRA SHETTY


Continuing its commitment of growing the business in the Thai animation and content creation sector by the means of international co productions, alliances and collaborations, the Thai government recently organized yet another business focused event in Phuket.

Organized by Software Industry Promotion Agency (Public Organization), Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, The Asia Business Matching for Creative Economy (ACE) 2010 was held in conjunction with the Venture Capital (VC) Forum Asia 2010 at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Phuket. The main objective of the ACE and VC forum was to attract international investors and producers in the digital content industry in Thailand.

The forum served as an opportunity for software development and digital content business entrepreneurs, both from Thailand and other Asian countries to foster co-operation and collaboration. The five day event had two days of dedicated business matching between the local companies and international companies to discuss and deliberate on possible collaboration opportunities.



The international guests included, Din Altit, former Vice President of Sony Columbia Pictures and currently the Vice President of Production & Development at Mirage Holding, Max Howard, William (Bill) Dennis, Frank M. Lunn of International Animation Consulting Group (IACG), Mike Blum of Pipsqueak Films, Ralph Palmer of Palmer Animation, Ron Saunders from Beyond International, David Allen Cluck, Producer from USA, Eddie White from the PRA, Avrill Stark from Astark Productions, Benjamin Joffe of CMUNE from Beijing, Sandra Walters from Kapow Pictures, Kevin L. Summerfield from Scorpio Studios, Anand (Andy) Kannan from SixInchSpace, Sidney Yankson, Investment Advisor from HK, Eric Calderon from Wild Boar Media, Adrian Ward from Bank of California, USA, Yang Mee Eng from MDeC , Azlan Pa'wan from BigBeak Pictures, Herson Lee from Red Turtle animation studios, J S Foo from Antah-UTV Multimedia and Communications, Dato Alexander and A. Thanushia from Snap Productions, Chan Moon Kien from MFX, Ho Lee Chong from Fatcheez.

Amongst the Thai companies who participated at the ACE and VC forum 2010 were Vithita Animation, Kantana Animation, Imagimax, Anya Animation, Imagine Design, Digidream Animation, Five Star Production, Film frame Production, Rainmaker game, TIGA, Byte in a Cup, Silptorn Comics and Animation, G Motif, The Monk Studios, Amadiva amongst others.

Dr. Wuttipong Pongsuwan Vice President Technology Transfer Software Industry Promotion Agency shared in his opening speech, "Thai government's 2010 Creative Economy policy's strategy was launched by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand on August 31st, 2010 at the Government House with an objective to support the Thais in adding the creative value to create more incomes and in expanding the National Creative Economy Industry's growth sustainably. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development or UNTAD's Creative Economy Report, Thailand ranked 17th in the world's top 20 creative goods exporters. The Digital Content Industry is one of the Creative Economy Industry that Thailand is ready in terms of human resources and technology that has met with international standards."

"Software Industry Promotion Agency hopes that the DMA 2010 campaign will generate more than 2 thousand millions baht additional revenue within the year of 2010. The Thai government is pushing the contribution of Creative Economy to 20% of the 2012 National GDP in order to strengthen the economy's foundation, to create jobs nationwide, and to drive the Thai digital content industry into the lucrative global market. For ACE 2010, I hope, will be a good opportunity to push Thailand's Digital Content for a great success in terms of international business relations."

The quality and potential of Thailand's content industry in the Thai film, animation and games was illustrated to all the international delegates through 30 mins presentation of their companies and projects. It gave the international guest insights into the advancements of the digital content space in Thailand.




Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuwan (Secretary General of the National Federation of Thai Film Associations) shared, "As the Thai government is taking the creative industry very seriously and hoping to push upward its economic value in the Thai GDP, both SIPA and the National Federation of Thai Film Associations hope that this Venture Capital Forum has provided all our friends and colleagues from overseas with bigger and better ideas with regard to collaboration with your Thai counterparts in producing the best outcome of digital content in your future projects on film, animation, and game."
 
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