LAUNCHING ACTION RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ON SME CLUSTERS AND VALUE CHAIN INTEGRATION – NOVEMBER 12-16, KHON KAEN

Trade and Investment Facilitation

The development of SME clusters and export consortia will be a vital tool in enabling SMEs in the CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) to take advantage of the increased opportunities for economic growth provided by AEC 2015. 

To enable SMEs to be better prepared for AEC integration, MI has recently conducted the Action Research Methodology on SME Clusters and Value Chain Integration regional training program. The training program comes on the heels on a series of national workshops on SME cluster development and export consortia formation recently held in the CLMV countries and sees the continuation of MIs interest in building the capacity and human resources of local business entrepreneurs. 

The five-day program forms one part of the three-year, Capacity Development for Integrating CLMV Economies into AEC project, which will run from 20012-2014. The project is funded by the New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade Aid Programme, a long-time supporter and development partner of MI. 

Action research training documents the process of SME cluster formation and the process of integration of the clusters into regional/global value chains. During the training, participants were reoriented to the major concepts and principles of SME clusters and export consortia through an intensive program employing a participatory approach pooling the insight, experience and local wisdom of all involved. 

Twelve participants from CLMVT countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand), attended the workshop. Participants included four national researchers, four Young GMS Professionals (YGMS), and three MI-based researchers from MIs Trade and Investment Facilitation Department. 

Remarking on the need for the development of research skills, Dr. Suchat Katima, MI Director, stated, “It is important to document the process and best practices in SME clusters formation and their operation. Research will be shared with other SMEs as case studies and be used to improve their operational efficiency and, where needed, make changes.”

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.