Date : 26/5/2005

News Release
by Bangkok Bank
May 26, 2005

The two Thammasat University teams that won top honors in an international business plan competition have shared the secrets of their success in a presentation at Bangkok Bank earlier this week.

Idyll Life, a team of five graduate business students, won the top prize and $183,000 dollars at the Global Moot Corp competition in Austin, Texas earlier this month. Previously, they had won the top award in the Asia Moot Corp competition in Bangkok. Idyll Life’s business plan was for “Pure Lite,” a natural, zero-calorie sweetener extracted from the stevia plant that is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Members of the team talked about “The Best Business Plan in the World.”

The second Thammasat team, A-Gro Solutions, won third prize . These team members previously won another business plan competition, the New Venture Championship, held at the University of Oregon in the United States; this is the second biggest competition for business plans. A-Gro Solutions’ business plan was based on a newly patented agricultural sprayer that can reduce fertilizer and pesticide costs by 50% and boost Thai rice crop yields by 22%.

Bangkok Bank and Thammasat’s Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy co-sponsored the seminar, which was held at Bangkok Bank’s headquarters on Wednesday, May 25.

Bangkok Bank President Chartsiri Sophonpanich presided over the event. Associate Professor Gasinee Witoonchart, associate dean of the university’s Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy, spoke on “Behind the Success of the Business Plan Competition in Global Moot Corp 2005.”

Bangkok Bank Executive Chairman Kosit Panpiemras, said, “We believe business planning will help entrepreneurs to have a clear idea about their existing business and visualize their goals and their future. This special presentation will present useful in-depth business plans that can help SMEs adapt their businesses.”

Bangkok Bank was the first bank to initiate support programs focused on SMEs. Since 2000, the bank has conducted regular seminars and workshops. The Bank’s first course was on business planning and since then the Bank has run courses all around the country. The Bank has also designed and provided courses on other subjects such as finance and cost management and clusters.

The Idyll Life team members are Pitinapa Rakchaiwan, Pornpan Wisidwutikul, Suttipan Sutas Na Ayuthaya, Tawipat Tesprateep and Wanwia Teerasopon. The members of A-Gro Solutions are Anchalee Chaichanavijit, Atip Kulasiriswad, Ekachai Wangprapa, Supishsha Sajjamanochai and Nantakan Chookarnkhar.

For more information about the seminar or the SME programs, please visit Bangkok Bank’s website at www.bangkokbank.com or email sme.credit@bbl.co.th

Photo Gallery “How to Compose a Successful Business Plan” presented by MIM Student’s Idyll Life and A-Gro Solutions Teams
www.bus.tu.ac.th/mim/gallery/BangkokBank/Successful_Business_Plan.htm