The Institute must focus its energies first on making AERA a success and second on finding ways to make the AERA activities and staff sustainable over the long run. Second year funding for the AERA program was confirmed and an AERA Steering Committee meeting will be held in March to outline directions for the second year. The Trustees also expressed an interest in working with American corporate donors to find ways to continue programs under the highly successful American Corporations for Thailand program which begins its third year in March. The Institute should use analysis of competitiveness as a way of coordinating its various activities. It should consider setting up a center for competitiveness and employment growth to analyze competitiveness issues and lead activities that lead to improvements.
Electronic commerce is a potentially major source of growth for small and medium-sized activities.
KIAsia should work out an e-commerce strategy so that globalization can work to the benefit of SMEs. New technologies in computers and communication have opened opportunities to improve the delivery of education over distance. KIAsia Director Officially Appointed at the 2000 KIAsia Annual Meeting Dr. Asavin Chintakananda, KIAsia Trustees and AERA Executive Manager, was appointed Director of the Institute at the Board of Trustees meeting. The meeting unanimously approved that Dr. Asavin serve as the Director for a three year term after several years of voluntary assistance to the Institute. Dr. Asavin will work closely with Mr. Paul Wedel, KIAsia Executive Director, to administer the Institute.