CHIANG MAI : IBM, the world's leading information technology solutions provider, hopes the global economic recovery and the Thai government's creative economy project will support an IT industry recovery.
Thanwa Laohasiriwong, country general manager of IBM (Thailand), said that since the IT market was growing by double digits annually, the company was confident in its expansion plan.
He added that business clients' behaviour should shift from using IT to save on expenses into expanding market share by increasing sales this year.
IBM hopes to perform better than the average growth rate of the industry this year by attempting to gain more market share. In this regard, it is launching a regional office in Chiang Mai, its first in Thailand.
"A regional office allows us to be closer to our customers and business partners," he said. "This proximity should allow us to better assist them. In the long run, this should increase our market share in this region."
IBM has 20 business partners in Chiang Mai and more than 100 in the region.
Chiang Mai was chosen for IBM's first regional office because of its great potential, said Mr Thanwa. The northern capital has potential for industry expansion in segments that should see higher demand for IT products and services. These include education, government services, hospitals, tourism and the industrial sector. It is also close to Lamphun Industrial Estate, where IBM sees business opportunities growing.
"Demand in Chiang Mai is different from other areas," he said.
"In Bangkok, most customers focus on gathering information for business analysis. Though Chiang Mai is not yet [developed] to that level, there is an increasing need for IT products and services."
IBM expects to open another regional office in the Northeast this year.
