INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY IN MICROFINANCE FOR SMES DEVELOPMENT – 2022

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INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY IN MICROFINANCE FOR SMES DEVELOPMENT – 2022

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON SUFFICIENCY ECONOMY IN MICROFINANCE FOR SMES DEVELOPMENT – 2022

August 22, 2022

The Mekong Institute (MI) has concluded a virtual International Training Course on the Sufficiency Economy in Microfinance for SME Development that was held from August 22 – September 2, 2022.

The Institute thanks the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), in collaboration with the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), for making this course possible.

Since 1991, this training has been one of the flagship programs of TICA’s Annual International Training Courses (AITC). AITC offers not only a training experience, but also a platform for enriching professional networks and sharing ideas between international participants.

The Sufficiency Economy framework was introduced in 1974 by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It encourages people to live productive lives that create a foundation for family and society. The Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) has been incorporated into the development philosophy of the Royal Thai government. Such training provides practical knowledge and skills that enhance the capacity of business people, government officials, and development agencies to foster similar approaches to their work.

At the opening session Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of the Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) at the Mekong Institute, said

Ms. Hathaichanok Siriwattanakul, Director of Human Resource Development Division at TICA, underlined the importance of SME development in the context of the sufficiency economy, pointing out that microfinance presents an opportunity for SMEs to integrate the ‘sufficiency model’ into their development plans.

Improving access to finance for SMEs is key to running a business. The sufficiency economy philosophy (SEP) is Thailand's homegrown approach to development. The knowledge gained from learning about the ‘sufficiency economy’ can be applied to many sectors including SME development. In addition to practical knowledge, the participants gain a new perspective on microfinance for SMEs. The training introduces concepts and applications that guide them toward the ‘sufficiency’ concept, hopefully providing a new framework by which to conceptualize ‘SEP’ in the context of enhanced and diversified financing for SMEs

she said.

A total of thirty-eight (38) participants comprising mid-and -senior level officials from central banks, academic institutions and members of the CICA attended the training. The participants, who hailed from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, were drawn from the microcredit/microfinance and banking sectors.

The training program was made up of modules devoted to various aspects of the ‘sufficiency economy’. These included (1) Concept and Overview of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP); (2) Concept and Overview of SME and Microfinance for SMEs Development; (3) Establishment of Community-based Microfinance; (4) Regulatory and Government Support for Microfinance Development; (5) Financial Inclusion and Poverty; (6) Sociological Framework of Rural Community-based Microfinance; and (7) Sustainability and Responsible Investment in Microfinance.

The participants were able to acquire knowledge and skills from an international panel of microfinance professionals. These included trainers from the Community Development Department, Ministry of Interior, the Agricultural and Food Marketing Association for Asia and the Pacific (AFMA), the Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Lincoln University, New Zealand, Khon Kaen University, Thailand and MI in-house experts who shared their knowledge and experience in microfinance for SME development.

At the closing session, Ms. Sholpan Yelkeyeva, Senior Officer of the CICA Secretariat, noted that the course provided a valuable platform that was well aligned with similar principles outlined in the ‘Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia’.

The seven comprehensive, inter-related modules of the course set out an easy-to-follow approach to community-based microfinancing,

she said “This is an important mechanism for SME development. The training helped the participants to identify ways to apply the concepts nationally.”

At the Closing Ceremony, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of the Mekong Institute, remarked that over the past 10 days of the training, the participants had gained an understanding of the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises as a powerhouse for national economic development. The success stories and best practices of SEP provided a new perspective on sustainable growth – a lens through which to better support SMEs’ access to microfinance. Mr. Suriyan expressed his appreciation for the active participation of the attendees. Feedback from the training helped MI to customize future courses. On behalf of MI, he also thanked the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand for their generous funding and the CICA for their active collaboration.