The director of the Bangkok Fashion City project and the president of the Thai Leather Goods Association said yesterday that they hoped to convince the Industry Ministry to revive the leather-products promotion that was part of the fashion project.

Bangkok Fashion City was launched in the Thaksin Shinawatra era and terminated by the current government.

But project director Pramode Vidtayasuk said during the closing ceremony for the project at Siam Paragon that he did not expect the interim government to come up with any promotion scheme.

"What we want is for the ministry to point out the benefits of the project and show that to the next government," he said.

He said the project's focus on developing design skills and creating a positive image for Thai fashion was just the first step. The country would still need over a decade to create competitiveness and build a strong reputation in global markets.

He added that the governments of countries famous for fashion and design around the world all supported their entrepreneurs in the business.

Pramode and David Chiu, president of the Leather Goods Association, said the leather-goods promotion - one of nine projects of Bangkok Fashion City - over its 18-month life had helped more than 60 entrepreneurs to improve themselves in many aspects, including embracing the concept of creating a cluster in the leather sector. New companies were created and value added to production at existing companies.

In addition, King MongkutUniversity of Technology Thon Buri recently established an institute to educate brand-building strategies in the fashion industry.

The two did not say when they expected to meet the minister.

While waiting for renewed support from the government, David said he planned to draft a road map for developing businesses in the leather industry by focusing on five product groups, including home-decoration items, shoes and bags.

He said the road map would facilitate the intelligent, efficient development of the leather sector. The association has hired a foreign professor who used to work for the International Monetary Fund to help set the direction.

David said a rough outline had  been in place since late last year and was revived after he was re-elected early this year.

Pramode said he had already discussed a project to develop finished street-wear clothes with the industry minister. The project aims to help clothing businesses in local markets such as Chatuchak weekend market and Bo Bae market to upgrade themselves.

Entrepreneurs in those markets would be allocated specific budgets to develop their collections, then they would have events to showcase those collections to international buyers. They would also have a specific mall for selling their clothes.

Pramode said the budget should be about Bt20 million.

He expects the ministry to allocate the budget through the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion "soon", as it should be up and running by September.

He did not say who would be the sponsor, but he has had pledges of cooperation from an association in Bo Bae and the Thai Garment Development Foundation.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation