Phuket It To Overtake Singapore

[george]

Phuket IT to overtake Singapore

PHUKET CITY: Information and communications technology (ICT) in Phuket will outstrip that of Singapore within two years, the head of Phuket’s newly-established Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) has ambitiously predicted.

Dr Pongsak Kerdvongbundit, President of Sipa in Phuket, also announced that the organization’s office in Saphan Hin, which was officially opened on March 1 but initially remained unmanned, is now partially staffed and is ready to register information technology (IT) companies.

Dr Pongsak also invited IT investors to a meeting on April 25 to discuss problems they have encountered setting up businesses on the island and to look for ways to help them. The meeting will be held at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel in Phuket City, starting at 9 am.

He told the Gazette that Sipa is encouraging all IT businesses on the island to register with its office, which now has one full-time staff member, with more on the way.

“We expect to be fully staffed by April 20. The office here has been set up very quickly,” he said, admitting however, “The Sipa headquarters in Bangkok still doesn’t have an office, so this has held us up.

“After the meeting, we will use the information we gather to develop a plan to meet the needs of investors and IT specialists working in Phuket. Within two years, ICT systems in Phuket will be better than in Singapore,” he predicted.

There are now thought to be more than 200 IT firms located in Phuket, and a number of international companies have set up businesses here to produce short-range wireless network [bluetooth] devices and medical equipment.

Rattana Wetprasit, Acting Manager of the Sipa office in Phuket and currently its sole occupant, told the Gazette that she is ready to provide help to interested investors.

“We’d like qualified IT companies to join in helping us establish Sipa’s pilot projects, such as our One-Stop Service,” she said.

K. Rattana revealed that foreign labor issues were thus far among the most common queries. She said her office was now discussing the issue with the Board of Investment in order to find ways to make it more convenient for foreign IT experts to get work permits.

Among Sipa’s other ambitious plans for Phuket are:

- To help turn Phuket into an IT city by supporting software industry development to reach a target market value of 160 billion baht over the next five years;

- To turn out up to 600 IT-literate workers a year after 2007 in four areas: software enterprise development, animation and multimedia, mobile phone and game applications, and embedded systems;

- To expand the IT industry into the neighboring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi.

IT investors may now register their businesses with the Sipa/Phuket office at Prince of Songkla University’s Saphan Hin campus. A form (in Thai only) for registration for the seminar can be downloaded at http://www.phuket.psu.ac.th/sipa/ext7-47.doc .

Sipa’s Phuket office is open weekdays from 9 am to midday and 1 pm to 3 pm. For further information contact the office on the ground floor of the Research Center, Prince of Songkla University Phuket building, Saphan Hin, Tel: 076-356039; Fax: 076-356040; Email: [email protected].

--Phuket Gazette 2004-04-08

[the gentleman]

2 years??, I cant see it happening, they have talking about it for 5 years.

For an It company to invest here, the Island would have to really get it together regarding internet connections - I dont think it will happen in 5 years.

[Sing_Sling]

hahahahahahaha, this has to be a joke . . . Outstrip Singapore within two years?

I'm not Singaporean, but I do live here and even comapring Phuket to Singapore is a joke. Let's not start talking about work ethic, infrastructure, communication . . .

hahahahahahaha, this has to be a joke . . . Outstrip Singapore within two years?

[Lambastard]

Where do I sign up?

[ovenman]

I recall a few years back when the powers-that-be tried to get this technology hub thing going on Phuket that the Phuket governor had to personally review and approve all work permit applications.

[SeaVisionBurma]

In principle, the idea of creating some kind of tech-hub in Phuket is quite good, but as many of you have pointed out, its a long way from the vision to the reality.

Personally, if this kind of project was to be done properly, it would be far better to do it in Phuket than, say Bangkok.

For now, wait and see I guess.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Dr Pongsak is smoking something stronger than Marlboro methinks.

[Sing_Sling]

Had a chat with some colleagues (expats) about this topic and here are some of the replies about the differences:

- potable water

- general hygiene

- uninterrupted power

- trade route

- best airport in the world vs - umm, Phuket

- corruption

- worker mentality

- worker education

- language capabilities

- general infrastructure

- security

- safety

- image

- seaport

. . . and the list goes on

vs

- great beaches

- cheap cars

If taken like this, one could also easily substitute Bangkok for Phuket and the reasons why even the capitol will not overtake Singapore. And the new airport will be a shambles as well, as the people working there will have the same attitude, work ethic and chaotic mindset as at Don Muang.

Why, oh why, does the Thai government always want to make Thailand 'The Best of , The Hub of, The Centre of . . . '

You have to crawl before you walk, walk before you run. Malaysia has a better chance of becoming a regional '... of ...' due to the country's relatively wise injection of funds into their infrastrcuture.

Don't get me wrong, Phuket is a great place for a holiday, and it's not far from Singapore. How about trying to make it 'The Holiday Destination'. Surely it got a big beak from the Bali disaster - why not capitalise on that?!

Each place has its inherent strengths, why not focus on that instead of re-inventing the wheel?

Singapore has nothing to fall back on, in terms of land mass or a large population or natural resources and the government will ensure that this place stays attractive to foreign investors.

[Arnold]

Phuket IT to overtake Singapore

PHUKET CITY: Information and communications technology (ICT) in Phuket will outstrip that of Singapore within two years, the head of Phuket’s newly-established Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) has ambitiously predicted.

Outstrip what? Number of Bar Girls?

[ASIC]

In principle, the idea of creating some kind of tech-hub in Phuket is quite good, but as many of you have pointed out, its a long way from the vision to the reality.

Personally, if this kind of project was to be done properly, it would be far better to do it in Phuket than, say Bangkok.

For now, wait and see I guess.

Why do we have to "zone" the tech industry? I thought the great thing about the internet was that you could live and work wherever you like. Just get CAT and TOT to lower the price per megabyte and the entire Thailand cound be a tech-hub.

ASIC

[Arnold]

In principle, the idea of creating some kind of tech-hub in Phuket is quite good, but as many of you have pointed out, its a long way from the vision to the reality.

Personally, if this kind of project was to be done properly, it would be far better to do it in Phuket than, say Bangkok.

For now, wait and see I guess.

If anything Thailand has done everything to discourage a tech hub. There are severe restrictions on the type of work foreigners can do. Surely more restrictions will follow when the geniuses with an 87 IQ think they are now high tech savvy.

Maybe the guy meant techno hub / beer bar entertainment zone.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

In principle, the idea of creating some kind of tech-hub in Phuket is quite good, but as many of you have pointed out, its a long way from the vision to the reality.

Personally, if this kind of project was to be done properly, it would be far better to do it in Phuket than, say Bangkok.

For now, wait and see I guess.

If anything Thailand has done everything to discourage a tech hub. There are severe restrictions on the type of work foreigners can do. Surely more restrictions will follow when the geniuses with an 87 IQ think they are now high tech savvy.

Maybe the guy meant techno hub / beer bar entertainment zone.

The Thai Government is again talking of backing Phuket as an IT Center of Excellence, but they need a lot more than words. There was talk of a new class of Non-Immigrant visa for IT professionals. It might be like the Elite card

[astral]

The Thai Government is again talking of backing Phuket as an IT Center of Excellence, but they need a lot more than words. There was talk of a new class of Non-Immigrant visa for IT professionals. It might be like the Elite card

Where do I apply?

I have a degree and over 20 years IT experience.

Shucks, my guess is they will tell me I am too old.

At 57 I reckon I still have a few good years of earning power,

but what do I know?

I hope the wife doesn't mind moving to Phuket.

When will the high speed broadband, with International access get there?

Perhaps I should start a Poll.

[parryhandy]

In principle, the idea of creating some kind of tech-hub in Phuket is quite good, but as many of you have pointed out, its a long way from the vision to the reality.

Personally, if this kind of project was to be done properly, it would be far better to do it in Phuket than, say Bangkok.

For now, wait and see I guess.

Why do we have to "zone" the tech industry? I thought the great thing about the internet was that you could live and work wherever you like. Just get CAT and TOT to lower the price per megabyte and the entire Thailand cound be a tech-hub.

ASIC

because of the reason for most red tape - vested interests.

[kukunut]

2 years??, I cant see it happening, they have talking about it for 5 years.

For an It company to invest here, the Island would have to really get it together regarding internet connections - I dont think it will happen in 5 years.

2 years?

5 years?

The "Isthmus of Kra" project has been discussed since the days of King Mongkut. 100 over years.

[Khun Larry]

2 years??, I cant see it happening, they have talking about it for 5 years.

For an It company to invest here, the Island would have to really get it together regarding internet connections - I dont think it will happen in 5 years.

2 years?

5 years?

The "Isthmus of Kra" project has been discussed since the days of King Mongkut. 100 over years.

I am not impressed with an IT zone.

I will wait for the "Super IT Zone" which is sure to follow.