SCG joins scheme to lift villages

The Industry Ministry has teamed up with Siam Cement Group (SCG) to gain the company's know-how for the government's 22-billion-baht Creative Industry Village (CIV) scheme.

The partnership with the private sector is aimed at boosting local economies and increasing income for villagers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The CIV also seeks to connect the tourism sector with local villages and community enterprises.

SCG is Thailand's biggest cement maker and industrial conglomerate, and it takes part in the government's Big Brother project to help SMEs.

The Industrial Promotion Department recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Siam Cement Lampang Co, a subsidiary of SCG Cement-Building Materials, to support business know-how for three villages in Lampang province.

Deputy Industry Minister Somchai Harnhiran said the state aims to improve quality of life at the provincial level.

He said rural economies must grow in line with overall GDP, and the CIV scheme and the Thai Niyom Yangyuen project are expected to foster sustainable development.

"In Lampang, we will join SCG to develop and support three local villages, Ban Paen Tai village in Chae Hom district, Ban Mae Jam village in Muang Pan district and Ban Mo Luang village in Mae Mo district," Mr Somchai said.

He said business operators have their own innovation and technology to transfer to local villagers and SMEs, particularly for marketing and training programmes that help them develop products and design packaging.

The CIV scheme has 317 participating companies, including PTT, ThaiBev, SCG, Thai Union Group, Nissan and Denso.

Under the Big Brother project, theses companies have the capability to build business strength for local villagers and SMEs under the Pracha Rat (People's State) initiative.

Sanit Kessuwan, R&D director at SCG Cement-Building Materials, said the company is confident in the success of the project in the three villages in Lampang.

"SCG will help local villagers and educate them on cutting chemicals for plantation areas, and SCG believes this will help them earn higher farm product prices," he said.

Siam Cement (SCC) shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 456 baht, down two baht, in trade worth 469 million baht.