EDP 2016 to look outwards to CLMV

The TLCA in conjunction with its key partners in its Executive Development Programme (EDP), which include the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Bangkok Bank and KPMG Phoomchai, yesterday held a press conference to announce the launch of its EDP Class of 2016. For the first time it will involve field trips to CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) countries and include as its participants entrepreneurs and business executives from CLMV and other Asean countries. TLCA president Surong Bulakul said that among the outstanding features of the EDP, which had organised 15 classes over the past nine years producing more than 1,200 alumni to date, was its ability to help network the participants who have the right quality and qualifications.

“It will not only be academic learning, but also networking and linkage to businesses,” he said.

Participants will be able to learn and ask in-depth questions with top-notch executives like Somprasong Boonyachai, chief executive of InTouch Holdings.

Banpu board member Chanin Vongkusolkit, in his capacity as the EDP’s programme director, said it had always been a mission of the TCLA to enhance Thailand’s competitiveness, whereas the private sector had proved a key driver of national development. But as Thailand prepares for the onset of the Asean Economic Community, the competencies of the country still have to be levelled up, he said.

To that end, the TLCA will adjust the EDP 2016 programme to meet its new mission to “build regional leaders” who will have both knowledge and networks at the regional level. Surong noted that EDP classmates could enhance one another’s networking and knowledge sharing and ensure they have friends in many countries.

In addition to five classroom days in Bangkok next February and March, EDP 2016 participants will take field trips in different CLMV countries, then return to develop case studies to share with the instructors and other participants.

Pakorn Peetathawatchai, executive vice president and head of the SET’s Corporate Strategy and Finance Division, said the stock market could not have good quality if its listed companies were not of a high standard. The TLCA’s EDP programme is thus welcome, since it will help listed companies develop the competencies of their human resources as well as to have exposure and relationships that will help them work successfully outside the country. “The SET also cannot grow if it cannot extend beyond the border,” he said.

Somprasong said that as Michael Porter wrote in his book “The Competitive Advantage of Nations”, a nation succeeds because of its human resources.