South Korea is giving Thailand advice on fashion ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) at the end of the year.
Asean-Korea Centre secretary-general Kim Young-sun, centre, with Thai officials at a fashion industry workshop in Bangkok. (Photo from Asean-Korea Centre website)
The move is part of South Korea's efforts to strengthen ties with Asean countries, says the Asean-Korean Centre's secretary general Kim Young Sun.
While help in other fields is on the way, at the moment experts from the South Korean fashion industry are helping Thailand upgrade its fashion industry, after Bangkok asked it to step in, he said.
Speaking during a recent visit, Mr Kim said Thailand's central location in the region makes it a logistical hub for economic activity and a key partner for South Korea, Mr Kim said.
"We [South Korea] have a number of projects with individual countries in Asean. The Thai government has asked us to share our knowledge on the fashion industry," he said, adding that projects to help Asean countries to integrate into a single market will follow.
Korean fashion experts are sharing their skills with their Thai counterparts, through a combination of practical hands-on training and intensive lectures about the garment industry, he said.
South Korean professionals have been invited to Thailand to lecture at universities, including designers, brand developers, brand organisers, e-commerce specialists and textile staff at small and medium-sized enterprises. Though the quality of garments made in Thailand is good, the industry needs to learn new techniques to add value to the product and gain access to international markets, he said.
The fashion industry is only one of many industrial sectors that South Korea plans to help Thailand develop ahead of the AEC, the centre said.