Viet Nam, Thailand ink MICE deal

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Department (Viettrade) yesterday, June 30, in Ha Noi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strengthening MICE trade co-operation between the two countries.
The event aims to create opportunities for the development of two countries’ MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) industry, implementing MICE market surveys in the Southeast Asia region and exchanging information on industry.
"The MoU is the latest pledge between the two countries and it is hoped that it will help the progress of economic integration of Southeast Asian countries through the MICE industry," said Ta Hoang Linh, deputy head of the Viettrade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The number of Vietnamese arrivals in Thailand increased to over 362,000 visitors in 2009, up from 2008’s figure of 338,300, with MICE visitors accounting for 13 per cent of the total.
Supawan Teerarat, director of the TCEB said that Viet Nam and Thailand had good relations and shared many common viewpoints. Strengthening trade co-operation would benefit both sides.
She also confirmed that the recent political crisis in Thailand had no affect on the country’s MICE industry.
According to the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, bilateral trade turnover with Viet Nam is expected to reach US$10 billion this year, an increase of nearly $4 billion on 2009.
Last year, Thailand’s investors ranked 8th position among foreign investors in Viet Nam, up from the 12th position in 2006. So far, 25 Thai companies have invested in Viet Nam with a total of 216 FDI projects, according to the National Statistics Office of Thailand.
At present, Thailand ranks third in trade exchange in the ASEAN region.
The TCEB said that it was deploying a promotional programme named "One more night, one more smile" to encourage Vietnamese MICE v
isitors to Thailand to take part in exhibitions.