About 500 Thai architects are ready to register as Asean Architects (AA), which allows a permit for Asean architects to work in the region under the Asean mutual recognition arrangement on architectural services.
Yet this number is still much lower than those of their Singaporean and Malaysian peers, said the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA).
Smith Obayawat, ASA's president, said the number of Thai architects who could qualify for the AA permits is relatively low, making up only 3.1% of the 16,000 licensed Thai architects nationwide.
All Malaysian architects, some 2,000, as well as 1,800 Singaporean architects are ready to register for AA permits, he said.
"If Thai architects are not ready for Asean economic integration, we may lose a huge opportunity," he said. "More American architects are setting up offices in Singapore to tap this region, as there are very few jobs in their home country."
The AA permit will take effect in late 2015 when the Asean Economic Community starts, as architecture is one of the professional services the pact aims to open up and integrate as a single market.
"Thai architects are trying to improve their skills, particularly in English language, following AA requirements including management programmes and English courses," he said.
Some 2,000 Thai architects are professional architects, while 14,000 are associated architects, said Mr Smith. The 500 ready for AA permits are professional architects, he said, adding they need to attend training programmes on various issues, collecting points for their attendance.
ASA will hold its annual architecture fair, dubbed Architect 14, from April 29 to May 4, 2014, at Impact Muang Thong Thani under the theme "18/80 Eighteen/Eighty". Over 700 Thai and overseas companies are expected to join.
Of the expected exhibitors, most will be Chinese construction material producers, particularly decorative items, as they were successful at the fair this year.
As energy conservation is a new trend, there will be a green zone for environmentally friendly products, including green materials producers from Australia.