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This document reports on achievements in many critical areas including child protection, education, health, livelihoods and disaster risk reduction by Save the Children as a result of their planned five-year response and recovery program in five countries: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Somalia.
http://www.preventionweb.net/files/12547_tsunamireport20091.pdf
Keywords: India, Indonesia, Natural disasters, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tsunamis,

A comprehensive framework for the adoption of techno-relationship innovations : empirical evidence from eCRM in manufacturing SMEs / Kittipong Sophonthummapharn. - Umeå : Umeå University. Umeå School of Business, 2008. - 273 p. (Studies in business administration. Series B ; 65) Information Technology (IT) plays a significant role in today business competition. A prominent role is that it helps a firm to manage relationships with customers effectively. Adoption of appropriate technology can lead the firm to greater business competency, improve its business performance, and ensure it retains its competitive advantages. While there is a rich body of literature on IT innovation adoption and implementation, research on the adoption of IT innovation that is specifically intended to perform relationship marketing functions is scant. The problem in this research is to address the lack of a research framework for examining the factors influencing the adoption of techno-relationship innovations. The existing adoption models are insufficient in properly explaining which factors are involved in the adoption decision and which factors are more important, and are especially insufficient with regard to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive research framework used for exploring the factors affecting the adoption of techno-relationship innovations and to apply this framework for empirically investigating the adoption of electronic Customer Relationship Management (eCRM) applications in manufacturing SMEs. This study proposes the term ‘techno-relationship innovation’ and defines it as a technology-related idea, process, method, product, or service that is intended to perform relationship marketing tasks and which is perceived as new to an individual or a firm. The developed research framework contains 20 potential determinant factors covering four contexts: individual, technological, organizational, and environmental. This study was conducted through survey research and the sample was drawn by means of systematic sampling technique. The empirical data were collected by using self-administered questionnaires and the data analysis was based on 508 manufacturing SMEs in Thailand. The analysis was based on multivariate statistical techniques including t-test, factor analysis, deiscriminant analysis, and cluster analysis. The findings reveal interesting insights into understanding the adoption of eCRM applications by manufacturing SMEs. The Key Influential Factors (KIF) model is proposed summarizing the conclusions of the study. It indicates what factors in what contexts should be given more or less attention. From 20 factors, the analysis indicates that 12 factors are important factors that should be given high priority. They are Compatibility, Industry Pressure, Customer Pressure, Subjective Norm, Attitude, External Support, Perceived Advantage, Observability, Perceived Relationship Marketing Functionality, Technological Expertise, Perceived Easiness, and Financial Resources. Five factors have the capability to discriminate between eCRM adopters and non-adopters but their discriminant powers are weak so they receive second priority. They are Competitive Pressure, Innovativeness, Business Experience, Governmental Encouragement, and Internet Experience. The other three factors appear insignificant but they should not be completely ignored when encouraging the adoption of eCRM applications. Thus, these three factors receive third priority. They are Size, Trialability, and Self-efficacy. Furthermore, the eCRM adopters are classified into three groups: basic adopters, moderate adopters, and advanced adopters. The inference is that the basic eCRM adopters are uncertain whether eCRM applications are really needed for business success. In contrast, the moderate and advanced eCRM adopters require different attention which is related to maximizing the advantages of eCRM applications. This classification offers solid information for market segmentation purposes in the eCRM industry. Study implications are acknowledged. A comprehensive research framework is proposed suggesting 20 potential determinant factors involved in examining the adoption of techno-relationship innovations. This research framework provides a tool to marketing researchers in conducting further research. Empirical investigation leads to the KIF model that offers guidance to government and private agencies in properly encouraging the adoption of eCRM applications and their relevant components among manufacturing SMEs. Moreover, the study’s limitations and suggestions for further research are provided.
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:142015/FULLTEXT01
Keywords: Business enterprises, Business. Management, In Focus, In Focus 2010, In Focus 2010 Week 23, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Small and medium size enterprises, Southeast Asia, Sweden, Thailand,

A study of Swedish tourists going on vacation in Thailand / Pan Rong, Sitthiphon Panto. - Mälardalen University. School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology, 2010. - 40 p. (Master's thesis) With the help of consumer decision making theory, factors were being investigated. An additional questionnaire was being distributed to collect primary data. The secondary data from reliable sources was used to have a better understanding of Swedish travelling behaviour. It showed that among eight factors “motivation or energizers factor” has the most influence or effect on Swedish traveler’s decision making in choosing Thailand as a traveling destination. However, we can summarize their level of influence into three broaden group: High Influence Factor (motivation or energizers factor, socio-economic factor, (personality / attitude factor), Medium Influence Factor (perception factor, learning factor, cultural factor, family influence factor) and Low Influence Factor (reference group influence Factor)
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-9952
Keywords: Nordic Perspective, Publications, Southeast Asia, Sweden, Thailand, Tourism,

A study of the Korean Wave in order to be a lesson to Thailand for establishing a Thai Wave / Pavinee Potipan, Nantaphorn Worrawutteerakul. - Mälardalen University. School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology. - 76 p. (Master's thesis) After having faced the economic collapse in 1998, South Korea government initiated “Hallyu” as a soft power to improve the economic status, export its cultural products and even build the country an image. Hallyu or the Korean wave represented the popularity of Korean popular culture which had spread across Asia. Asian people widely consumed Korean cultural goods by watching Korean dramas, listening to Korean pop music or even doing plastic surgery to look like Korean actors as well as imitating their fashion style. The success of the Korean wave also expanded to other Korean industries such as tourism, food, electronics and so on. Purpose The purpose of the research is to figure out the possibility for Thailand to adopt the strategy of the Korean wave in the interest of creating a Thai wave. The authors will investigate the factors behind the Korean wave success and compare it to Thailand‟s potential that might affect to the creation of a Thai wave. Method The research was conducted with a qualitative approach. Data collection applied both primary and secondary data. Focus groups from three Asian nationalities were used as primary data. The secondary data as a main resource collected from many websites, books, and online articles.
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-9819
Keywords: Culture, East Asia, Nordic Perspective, Publications, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Sweden, Thailand,

Renaissance Offers Insight into Thailand’s Biggest Challenges The Bank’s recent report “An East Asian Renaissance: Ideas for Economic Growth” which focuses on economic and social forces that have transformed the region since the 1997-98 financial crisis, offers an insight into Thailand’s biggest development priorities, said leading members of the Thai private sector and academia. It is the fourth comprehensive report on the region’s economic and social performance by the Bank since 1993. It finds that, ten years after the 1997 crisis, East Asia has transformed itself by creating more competitive and innovative economies. However, the region must now turn to the urgent domestic challenges of urbanization, inequality, and corruption arising from its success, the report says.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/0,,content...
Keywords: Economic issues, In Focus, In Focus 2007, In Focus 2007 Week 49, Southeast Asia, Thailand,

freelance
Danish freelance journalist (Danish school of Media and Journalism 2006) writing for a range of mainly Danish media about news, trends and politics in South East Asian countries. Lived in Cambodia 2006-2008. Now based in Bangkok.
http://www.palmwritings.com
Keywords: Cambodia, Denmark, Human rights, Malaysia, Nordic Perspective, Person, Southeast Asia, Thailand,

The website of the APEC Virtual Center for Environmental Technology Exchange. APEC assists municipalities, corporations and environment related institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to share environmental information via the Internet. The APEC-VC home page is designed and constructed to provide access to vast environmental information on the World Wide Web. Currently, Japan, Australia, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, China, The Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Chile, Indonesia and Malaysia have APEC-VC up and running. The website categories are unified so that information can be retrieved in the same manner from any of the Virtual Centres in the region.
http://www.apec-vc.or.jp/index_e.asp
Keywords: China, East Asia, Environment, In Focus, In Focus 2008, In Focus 2008 Week 32, In Focus 2009, In Focus 2009 Week 16, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,

Recognising the lack of adequate data on trafficking, IOM launched a pilot research project to identify “best practice” in data collection on trafficking, and to prepare a situation report by government agencies in four ASEAN member countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand). This extensive report presents the findings of that research. The report looks at the data presently available from government sources in the four countries studied and highlights some of the issues that need to be addressed in order to improve data on trafficking over time. The report discusses lessons learned from the country studies, including common challenges facing each of the four countries. Key recommendations include: * countries need to use the definition of trafficking in the UN Trafficking Protocol as the regional standard for collecting data on trafficking * countries need to establish a mechanism for the collection of qualitative and quantitative data to prevent trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and to prevent victims of trafficking from re-victimisation * coordination and cooperation on data collection needs to be improved at the regional level by establishing a “focal point on trafficking data collection” within each country * templates for data collection need to be developed
http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/publishe...
Keywords: Cambodia, Crime, General references, Human trafficking, Indonesia, Law and legislation, Philippines, Research, Research methods, Southeast Asia, Thailand,

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) is a special body of ASEAN which is concerned with promoting cooperation between ASEAN parliaments and parliamentarians in order to encourage the growth of greater democracy in the region. Members include: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia. The website provides information on the history, purpose of the organisation and its recent activities.
http://www.aipo.org/
Keywords: Cambodia, Democracy, Development. Poverty, In Focus, In Focus 2007, In Focus 2007 Week 35, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Political systems, Politics and society, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

ARTNeT is an informal and open network of research and academic institutions with a strong interest in trade and investment policy and facilitation issues. Institutions involved in the network are classified as ARTNeT Members, Core Partners, and Associate Partners. Please consult the ARTNeT membership guidelines or the list of members and partners for more information. iven the increasing complexity of the international trade environment, policy makers in the UNESCAP region are in need of more effective institutions able to deliver the research and analytical studies to make better decisions. In April 2004, developing countries in Asia and the Pacific expressed support for the establishment of a research network on trade to equip the region with a mechanism for enhancing the capacity of research institutions. This led to the creation of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT), an open regional network composed of leading trade research institutions across the UNESCAP region, and supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. The UNESCAP Trade and Investment Division is the Secretariat of the Network and coordinate its activities, while an Institutional Advisory Board (IAB) has been set up to provide leadership and guidance during its initial phase. Three Permanent Advisors for Research, Professors Jagdish Bhagwati, Alan Deardorff and John Whalley, also provide strategic guidance on the ARTNeT research programme and its implementation.
http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/member.asp
Keywords: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Asia, Economic issues, Education, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Melanesia, Nepal, Oceania, Philippines, South Asia, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,