Some 120 participants joined the two-day Thai-Swedish conference on culture and sustainable development 17-18 July in Bispgården, Ragunda.
Besides information exchange and strengthening of relations between Sweden and Thailand, the seminar also resulted in:
• A cooperation agreement between Khon Kaen University and the county of Jämtland
• And the establishment of a Thai library in Bispgården
“The first thing one will need when establishing an information centre is information, that is why we start with the library,” explains M.R. Chakrarot Chitrabongs, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Culture, in an interview with regional daily ÖP.
Meanwhile, Jämtland County Governor Ms Maggi Mikaelsson, signed a cooperation agreement with the dean of Khon Kaen University, Mr. Sumon Sakolchai.
The university, which has some 20 000 students, has been chosen to host the “E-Saan Software Park”, one of several upcountry hubs related to Software Park in Bangkok.
The Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce is one of the key players in the E-Saan Software Park project.
By the end of the Gateway conference, Tage Levin, chairman of the Sweden-based Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce, Anita Jonsson of the Swedish export council “Exportrådet” and ministry advisor Kruewal Somana signed a memorandum on business cooperation between Sverige and Thailand primarily within IT and culture.
IT-ministern Surapong Suebwonglee attended the signing and spoke at the conference. From the Swedish government, deputy prime minister Margareta Winberg took part in the conference.
From Thailand, representatives of the Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce were Lars Bjorkenor, MD of Ericsson in Thailand, and Axel Blom, Scandinavian Airlines. Also Göran Carlsson of the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok was present.
A new green house with plants from Thailand was inaugurated during the event. Most of the plants had been flown in from Thailand by Scandinavian Airlines.
