German-Thai Chamber of Commerce

The history of the German Technology Symposium in Thailand dates back to 1985. What started as an exclusively technical lecturing event with 52 technical presentations in the Indra Hotel has developed into an international fair event of considerable recognition in Thailand and abroad.

At the beginning, the focus of GTS was clearly on technical subjects by engineers for engineers. Therefore, the first and only co-operating partner in GTS85 was the Engineering Institute of Thailand. The German Technology Symposia of 1985, 1987 and 1990 were geared to promote flow of technical knowledge from German engineers to as many Thai engineers as possible, some way of technology transfer - on a non commercial level - from Germany to Thailand .

To enlarge the event and to cater for the commercial needs of the participating German companies, since the third GTS - GTS90 - more emphasis was laid on developing the exhibition part. From GTS93 on, the event was held in the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, which had just been completed back then. This exhibition location laid on all facilities necessary for the new dimensions of GTS. Nowadays a regular German event in Thailand , GTS automatically is a platform for a bundle of supplementary shows and actions.

Visitor and exhibitor numbers increased considerably, bringing the number of exhibiting companies and organizations from Germany during GTS99 to a new record figure of 179. Around 15.000 visitors were counted.

GTS02, at a time when Thailand 's economy was still reeling from external economic shocks, saw 190 German and German-oriented companies and organizations participate. 73 symposium sessions were being held. The highlight was the visit of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who graciously agreed to make an extensive tour of GTS02.

The organizer of GTS, the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, always focused on the needs of Thailand with regard to technology and products. Today, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Ministry of Industry, and the Board of Investment together with several leading technology and industrial organizations cooperate with the organizer.

GTS 05

GTS05 was held from 8 – 12 November 2005 in the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center . Though not as record-breaking as GTS02, GTS05 was still the biggest German oriented trade fair in the world.

As always, the event saw most visitors being Thai nationals, about 35 % of them decision makers. 73 German and German oriented companies held a total of 79 symposium presentations. Altogether, the event counted some 135 participating companies. Exhibition ground decoration in itself was at the top-end for trade fairs.

Highlights of GTS05 were the opening ceremony carried out by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, an energy day organized by North-Rhine Westphalia, representation of many German universities organized by DAAD, and, for the first time ever, a “Tourism to Germany ” show. There were also a lot of evening receptions.

Thanks to many positive comments and success stories by GTS05 participants, the event provided some important impulses for German-Thai economic relations and helped to convince German businesses to put more focus on the possibilities provided in the Thai market. And with GTS08 to come up, Thailand soon invites again.

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