Thailand in Focus

Source : www.thaigov.go.th

On 5 October 2009 at Vibhavadee Ballroom, Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva delivered a special speech about ?Prime Minister gathers synergy to drive the economy forward? in a 30th anniversary of Than newspaper with participants including the executives of Than newspaper, representatives of government and private agencies i.e. PTT Public Company Limited, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Sansiri Public Company Limited, press, and general public.

The PM used this opportunity to welcome all the participants in the 30th anniversary of Than newspaper, delivered speech under the topic of ?Prime Minister gathers synergy to drive the economy forward?, and wished for the business growth of Than newspaper. Since the information dissemination especially on economic and business news is a critical part in strengthening the business sector and the overall economy, the availability of quality press not only benefits the information disbursement but also enhances businesses? readiness in adapting to environment and contingency planning more accurately. The PM also addressed today?s topic of driving the economy forward with the belief of everyone?s fairly monitoring Government?s progress, projects, and measures. The topic is of interest by wording ?synergy to drive?. The PM expressed his view and the Government?s in driving the economy forward and tackling the current problem that the Government has been in power since the beginning of year 2009 after declaring policy to the Parliament. At that time, every party highly concerned about confronting one of the most severe global economic depressions in 80 years. The much anxiety arose from the fact that the crisis stemmed from outside Thailand and brought many uncontrollable factors such as the crisis in major trading partners caused reductions in purchasing and travelling expenditures. Thailand has been affected dues to a moderately open economy. Everyone thought that it was not their own false and unclear in what to be carried out by ourselves in tackling the problem. Besides, Thailand was still in the midst of political conflicts for couple of years in which the country?s perception had been deteriorated by the arising violence. Thus, for the past 9 months, we cannot deny various parties? views of that serious situation and no way out concern.

To resolve the country?s problems, all aspects are interrelated. If the political problem is not resolved along with the economic problem, the country will find difficulties in moving forward. And if there is no consideration of economic crisis effects to society and people, there will be risks of the crisis spreading to other problems. The primary Government?s idea and what the PM insisted on coordinates including the Ministers, Members of the House of Representatives, politicians, and civil officers is that the most critical thing is the settle of economic problem especially the one that affects people. If we cannot prevent the economic crisis in spreading out, the crisis will transform to social crisis. And if the social crisis simultaneously happens with political crisis, the country will face extreme security crisis. These are essential points that the PM has been emphasized prior to the crisis that people-centered is needed for solving the country?s problem.

The PM revealed that the Government adjusted the emphasis on projects with readiness in execution to projects that focus on medium and long term strategies. As previously mentioned, the Government does not want to just resolve problems at hand but to restructure to fit future environment in order to raise the country?s competitiveness in the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. The focal point is to enhance effectiveness or productivity for Thailand to remain competitive and achieve sustainable development together with economic growth. Nevertheless, the restructuring takes time and needs continuity to advance in various executions. In agricultural sector, for instance, production yield from major crops must be higher by land possess management, water resource support, breed research, and agricultural output value added. For the industrial sector, the already strong base will result in continuous expansion trend such as the growing investment from major producers in the automobile industry is also expected. Meanwhile, some industries that faced problems or encountered lower cost competitors such as in electronics, textile, and clothing sector, the focal point will be climbing up the ladder of technology and value added of which the main point of the latest economic stimulus program.

Furthermore, the Thai?s economy has to advance to the one that creates value by using less resource the PM said. The moving towards idea and intelligence is the heart of creative economy even in design, re-capitalization, history or culture into business and economic value added. On the 7th of October 2009, the PM will meet with the board of creative economy to confirm what he previously promised in the policy making and projects to start up in few years ahead to improve the share of creative economy from 12% to 20% within 3 years. The PM assures that this is the right direction that relevant to the future global environment and benefits the society most. The Government will employ fairness though other measures especially social welfare, taxation, and land possess. In tackling the political problem, the PM is working on consensus of additional constitution amendment, which is one of the major policies towards conformity by using referendum. The obstacles to government service include the services render to private sector and laws interpretation that becomes problematic. The one stop service center for investor is to be established along with the? revision of various regulations including taxation, appeal process, tax evaluation and collection in order to relieve part of the obstacles.

Government Spokesman Bureau
Foreign Relations?Division