Three national dissemination workshops were carried out in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam between June and July 2018 to disseminate the findings of the study on “Access to Finance for SMEs in Freight Transport and Logistics Sector.” MI organized the workshops in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH following the completion of the study and technical consultation meetings with financial institutions, technology suppliers (manufacturers), and associated stakeholders in the three countries.  

The study is part of the project on “Green Freight Transport and Logistics in the Mekong Region” supported by the European Union, and being jointly implemented by GIZ, MI and the Greater Mekong Sub-region Business Forum.

The first workshop was organized in Rayong, Thailand on June 26, 2018 in collaboration with the Thai International Freight Forwarders Association. This was followed by the workshop in Yangon, Myanmar on June 28 with the support of the Myanmar International Freight Forwarders’ Association. The last leg of the workshop was held in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam on July 12 in cooperation with the Vietnam Freight Forwarders’ Association.

The national workshops aimed to provide freight transport and logistics SMEs information on banking and leasing products and services; present findings on the gaps between financial and leasing supply and demand sides, i.e. financial institutions and small and medium enterprises (SMEs); introduce new and upgraded trucking technologies and best practices to enhance the efficiency of trucking and logistics operations; and engage them in discussions on policy, financial and technical matters.

The workshop gathered a combined total of 114 participants from logistics SMEs (30 in Thailand, 40 in Myanmar and 44 in Vietnam). As speakers, representatives of financial institutions (K-Bank and ASK Leasing Company – Thailand, CB Bank – Myanmar and Sacombank Leasing Company and TP Bank – Vietnam) and trucking companies (Hino, Scania and MAN) also presented procedures and products to facilitate access to finance for freight transport and logistics companies especially SMEs.

MI provided guidance in business plan development to the companies to facilitate capacity development and access to finance of SMEs. In this context, Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of MI’s Trade and Investment Facilitation Department said, “MI will continue to provide technical assistance to the companies that are ready for investment in upgrading and new truck technologies upon completion of the workshop.” He further added that the technical assistance will be provided beginning July until October this year.

So far, 12 Myanmar logistics SMEs have already expressed interest to receive technical assistance from MI.