The Board of Investment (BoI) expects business matching at Subcon Thailand 2021, Asean's largest international industrial subcontracting event, may decrease to only 300 pairings, a sharp decline from 1,300 last year, due to the impact of Covid-19.
The eight-day event, to be held online by the BoI, will start on Sept 27.
Sonklin Ploymee, deputy secretary-general of BoI, said the pandemic caused many business people to consider delaying their investment projects, but some investors still want to go ahead with their investment expansion.
"BoI and partners will continue to organise this international event to support Thai industries and help small and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs]," she said.
BoI was asked by foreign investors about this year's event plans as they want to do business matching with prospective local partners.
There should be at least 300 business matches with SMEs, with investment value worth around 1 billion baht in 2021, said Ms Sonklin.
Last year, BoI helped arrange up to 1,300 pairings, with a total investment value of 4.6 billion baht.
BoI is working with the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association and Informa Markets to hold a virtual version of Subcon Thailand this year.
Kiattisak Jirakajornvong, president of the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association, said its more than 400 member companies have the potential to support new investment projects, including those under the S-Curve scheme.
"Most of our members are SMEs with high technology. They can serve many industries such as electric vehicles, defence, medical equipment and rail system," he said.
The association expects this event will also help boost Thai exports.
The Subcon Thailand will emphasise the potential of online exhibitions that can effectively help drive industrial growth, said Sanchai Noombunnam, deputy managing director of Informa Markets.
