The Programme Management Unit on Area-Based Development (PMU A) under the Office of the National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), has established itself as a "CHANGE AGENT" and an initiator of a research development plan on "Capacity & Competency Development of Local Enterprises based on Local Resources to build Sustainable Local Economy," also known as Local Enterprises (LEs).
This plan aims to establish local and sustainable economies through the enhancement and development of the competency and potential capacity of local enterprises' management in targeted areas. It promotes not only income, but also fairness in the total trade ecosystem for producers or upstream farmer groups, enabling them to foster local economic growth with prosperity, security, and sustainability. Furthermore, it aims to drive the plan with designed concepts, procedures, and a mutual work model involving local entrepreneurs, research parties, and related sectors to distribute knowledge management nodes nationwide. PMUA, in collaboration with the Institute for Local Economy Foundation, is organising the Kueakune-Local-Enterprises Exposition 2023 or Kueakune-LEs Exposition 2023 under the concept of "Business for Local Enterprise; Man-Merchandise-Market Model: Building Mechanisms for Sustainable Prosperity in the Local Economy." The exposition will take place from July 14–16, 2023, at the Ramruay Event Space, 5th floor, The Street Ratchada. It is an honourable opportunity to have Prof. Dr. Siriruek Songsiwilai, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), deliver the opening remarks for this Kueakune-Local-Enterprises Exposition 2023.
Dr. Kitti Sajjawattana, Director of PMU A, revealed that the research and development plan for local enterprises focuses on enhancing the competency and potential capacity of local entrepreneurs. It encourages them to utilise local enterprise management and local resources to create better-quality products or services and generate local employment. The plan aims to impact local economic prosperity by employing a data-driven strategy through the Kueakune-LEs SUPER APP, utilising the strategic concept of the "Man-Merchandise-Market Model." It also includes three learning processes and two significant learning tools/platforms to drive and develop the Kueakune-LEs development procedure. Additionally, the plan provides research funds for Kueakune-LEs entrepreneurs to support their financial needs and solve business problems. The plan will have a significant impact on the area, including local resources, local labour, and the overall prosperity of local economic growth in an inclusive and sustainable manner.
This exposition provides a platform for sharing local enterprise development mechanism proposals with Kueakune entrepreneurs, lecturers, and researchers from universities and research promotion-related sectors nationwide. The aim is to co-present the working procedure and tool proposals of PMU A's Kueakune-Local-Enterprises research project, raising awareness and facilitating deep understanding of the plan among key targets such as the press, public and private sectors, and the Thai people. It presents an excellent opportunity to communicate and expand on the plan's "connection of Knowledge Infrastructure and Learning Curve" and engage all interested private and public sectors in Thailand. Additionally, it aims to co-create and build a body of knowledge in collaboration with the Thailand Academy for Area Collaboration, Innovation, and Transformation (TACIT), led by Dr. Seelaporn Buasai, who supervises the overall effectiveness of sustainable and prosperous local economy growth as the chairman of the TACIT subcommittee.
Dr. Seelaporn Buasai, chairman of the TACIT subcommittee, emphasised that TACIT was established to recognise and harness Thailand's strength in local areas where people reside. The local areas are deemed crucial keys and solutions for achieving sustainable prosperity in the national local economy growth, aligning with the 20-year National Strategies on Area Development. TACIT's missions encompass five high-impact aspects of nation-building through five institutes: the Cultural Capital Management Institute, the Poverty Alleviation and Social Mobility Enhancement Institute, the City Development Institute, the Local Government Capacity Building Institute, and the Local Economy Development Institute.
Thailand Academy for Area Collaboration, Innovation, and Transformation (TACIT) will prioritise knowledge development to enhance and foster sustainable prosperity in the local economy. It aims to internationally disseminate a body of knowledge through an area-based research management system derived from the Kueakune-Local-Enterprises research plans. These plans encompass conceptual, procedural, and tool knowledge that are enhanced and synthesised. Ultimately, TACIT will provide a development curriculum and policy proposal through collaboration with the "Institute for Local Economy Foundation." This platform will effectively enhance local enterprise capacity and contribute to the sustainable security and prosperity of Thailand's local economy growth.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bhundit Innawong, Director of the Kueakune-Local-Enterprises Research Framework, highlights the significance of the "Man-Merchandise-Market Model" as the core concept of Kueakune-Local-Enterprises. This model focuses on business development rather than product development, emphasising the training and development of local entrepreneurs (Man). It involves diagnosing their business and financial health, using market information (Market) to design effective business management strategies, identifying new business opportunities, and addressing knowledge gaps. By following this model, entrepreneurs can create market-driven merchandise and enhance their capacity to achieve sustainable success in their businesses and sales.
Since its implementation in 2020, the Kueakune-Local-Enterprises research plan has successfully enhanced over 3,023 local enterprises by building and developing both direct (local enterprises) and indirect (educational institutes, universities, and local knowledge managers) Kueakune-Local-Enterprise mechanisms. This has resulted in a 140% increase in the total income of participating local enterprises, a 700% increase in local raw material trade within communities, a 100% increase in local employment, and a 57% monthly increase in local raw material usage. These positive outcomes can be attributed to the three learning processes specifically designed for KueakuneLEs:
1. Elevating Knowledge from Understanding to Enlightening
2. Turning Honest Work into Professional Work
3. Creating Great Work from Co-creation Networks
These learning processes are supported by two gamified learning platforms designed for KueakuneLEs:
1. Millionaire's Finance Gamification Learning
2. Be REAL's Marketing Gamification Learning
3. Value Creation from the Value Chain Gamification Learning
4. Choose Wrong, Life Ruins (Production Supply and Demand) Gamification Learning, etc.
These platforms and tools enhance and maximise the capacity and competency of KueakuneLEs in an enjoyable and memorable manner.
In the fiscal year 2023, the Kueakune-Local-Enterprises research plan has introduced two new working styles:
Moving Forward by the Institute for Local Economy Foundation: This aims to develop nationwide Kueakune-Local-Enterprises capacity by creating a body of knowledge for sustainable prosperity among local enterprises. This involves establishing more incubators and empowering individual local enterprises through the "business-sharing project (PunGun)" where research groups and networks are formed. University local knowledge managers (researchers) play a key role in driving the PunGun groups to support sustainable prosperity in local economy growth.
Moving Forward by a Powerful Tool: KueakuneLEs Super APP: This data-driven strategy application utilises the KueakuneLEs Super APP, where registered KueakuneLEs entrepreneurs nationwide enter their daily business and personal financial information. This creates a significant national database containing valuable information about the business and personal development, finance, marketing, employment, and marketing strategies of registered KueakuneLEs enterprises. The collected data is analysed and synthesised to generate insights and wisdom for the development of Thai Local Enterprises.
Dr. Suthat Ronglong, Founder and CEO of Do In Thai Co., Ltd., a renowned social innovator who developed the KueakuneLEs Super APP, emphasises the crucial role of digital data management in area-based development for achieving prosperity and sustainable local economic growth. This digital data management opens
doors of opportunities to enhance and develop local resource capital, aligning with global changes and social contexts. By utilising digital data as a driver, it enables the connection and integration of local enterprises, redirecting and redesigning their work processes and value chains to maximise efficiency and foster sustainable prosperity in local economy growth.
The KueakuneLEs Super APP serves as a comprehensive platform for learning, relearning, and unlearning local enterprise development. It acts as a repository of deep data, synthesising the state of development for Thai Local Enterprises. Through the app, it identifies symptoms and indicators related to the economic situations of local enterprises, such as local resources, local employment, and market information (both internal and external). This data discovery is a strategic approach to measure the growth of economic activities within local enterprises, including turnover, profits, local expenditures, new investments, and local employment. It also captures local social activities, fostering networking, sharing, and an inclusive mindset. This approach aligns with the "KueakuneLE's: Man-Merchandise-Market" Model, which guides the business strategies of local enterprises.
The learning platforms within the KueakuneLEs Super APP are designed to be user-friendly, convenient, and efficient in problem analysis and prompt response. They undergo rigorous examination to ensure high security, reliability, and the confidentiality of data. The data collected is mainly synthesised by PMU A and the Institute for Local Economy Foundation to develop future guidelines for local economy development, closely supervising, analysing, and synthesising the data.
The DO IN THAI team plans to introduce the KueakuneLEs Super APP to Bank Agents in Thailand in the near future through financial knowledge training. This aims to maximise the benefits for farmers, local producers, and entrepreneurs involved in the KueakuneLEs project who are current or potential bank customers or debtors. They will be able to plan their working capital and business liquidity strategies, supported by synthesised data from the app, including household income, business income, and investment financial pocketbooks. The introduction of data-driven decision-making processes and business strategies will empower farmers and KueakuneLEs entrepreneurs in Thailand, fostering sustainable, supportive, and prosperous outcomes.
Kueakune-Local-Enterprises Exposition 2023: Business for Local Enterprises; Man-Merchandise-Market Model" - Building Mechanisms for Sustainable Prosperity of Local Economic Growth is the KEY to enhancing the capacity and competency of KueakuneLEs for success. Come and experience the exposition to be amazed, surprised, and enlightened by the 1 MODEL, 3 PROCESSES, and 2 TOOLS that can transform everyone's thoughts and work practices through proven data and outcomes from KueakuneLEs and nationwide research networks.
At the exposition, you will witness a grand KueakuneLEs stage showcasing sustainable and successful projects, supported by Kueakune's Local Knowledge Managers from across the country.
Let's meet at:
KueakuneLEs Stage: The key to building mechanisms for sustainable prosperity in local economic growth.
KueakuneLEs Market: Showcasing high-value products and merchandise from KueakuneLEs nationwide.
KueakuneLEs Exposition: Unveiling amazing facts and figures, the KEY to successful and sustainable local economic growth based on real cases nationwide.
For further information or to join the 'Kueakune-Local-Enterprises' project, kindly contact the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A) at phone number 0 2109 5432, extension PMU A, or visit our website at: https://www.nxpo.or.th/A/.
