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AFG mesmerized by Voranai Vanijaka
Dr Iain Corness
The Automotive Focus Group (AFG) celebrated their events year with
an address by noted columnist Voranai Vanijaka, one of the most
straightforward and straight talking media persons in this country. This was
given at the Amari Ocean Tower.
Voranai Vanijaka
With informative speakers each month, the November
address was one of the most interesting and timely, with the subject matter
being “The Shinawatra Dynasty - A tale of hope and fear!”
With his insight into Thai politics and Thai politicians, he spoke very
frankly on the current political situation, after explaining the past
political leanings. He stated that after WWI this was the downfall of kings
and emperors, to be replaced by dictators. After WWII there was the fall of
the dictators and democracy came in.
However, in the past 81 years of a ‘democratic’ Thailand there have been 23
military coups d’etat, of which only 11 were successful.
In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Thailand had a dual regime of monarchy and
military. But that gave way as well.
Currently there are two sides facing off in the streets of Bangkok, but he
believes that both sides are actually very aware of business in Thailand,
and something will be done rather than tamper with the bottom line. He also
described Thai politics as being a “family orgy”.
He mentioned the Thai pragmatism that most members of the AFG have come
across at times, and Voranai felt that there will be another round of public
dissent, probably even within two months.
He finished his discourse by stating that history was not a subject that was
taught well in Thai schools. He suggested that since the Thai population did
not know where it came from, it now didn’t know where it was and therefore
would not know where it was going.
An excellent lecture from someone who understands both the Thai culture and
the western expectations.
The AFG can be contacted through
[email protected].
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Thailand, Myanmar move forward on Dawei economic zone development
Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to jointly develop the
Dawei deep seaport mega projects and find new investors to replace
Italian-Thai Development Company (ITD) which has suspended its operations.
Thai and Myanmar officials met in at a Bangkok hotel last week for the
fourth Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) during which a memorandum of
understanding was signed by the Dawei Special Economic Zone Authority (DSEZ)
and Dawei SCZ Development Co.
Dawei SCZ Development is a Thai-Myanmar joint venture with an initial
registered capital at Bt12 million.
Italian-Thai Development has decided to cease operations due to financial
difficulties after having invested about Bt6 billion (more than US$185
million). Its investment privileges will be transferred to the Dawei SCZ
Development.
Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, who
represented the Thai delegation in the joint coordinating meeting, said
auctions for the Dawei development project will include two stages, starting
with bids for infrastructure development.
The second stage will involve concessionaires for mega projects with a
combined investment of Bt300-400 billion, covering an area of 200 square
kilometers or about 200,000 rai.
Premchai Kanasutra, Ital-Thai president, said the company is willing to
enter a joint venture with Rojana Industrial Park in the second phase of
development which will need an initial investment of no less than Bt100
billion.
U Sett Aung, deputy governor of the Myanmar Central Bank, said Japanese
investors were invited to invest in the mega project.
Japan may announce its plan to join other investors in Dawei at the 40th
ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation summit, to be held in Japan in
December, he said. (MCOT)
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Private sector eagerly awaiting Bt2 trillion investment
A Thai construction company is entering a joint venture
with a Chinese firm to bid for the construction of dual rail tracks under
the government’s mega infrastructure plans, tentatively scheduled to kick
off next year.
Pasit Leesakul, director of TRC Construction Co., said the private sector is
anxiously waiting for the launch of the development projects under the bill
to borrow Bt2 trillion, which was passed by the Senate last week.
TRC is a contractor for gas pipeline and engineering systems, and
construction of factories for energy and petrochemical industries.
He said the development projects will increase Thailand’s competitiveness
and decrease logistics costs, which amount to 20 percent of Thailand’s gross
domestic product.
Eighty-five percent of the Bt2 trillion spending will be allocated to
improvement of the railway system and the investment will definitely
stimulate the country’s economy and boost employment, he noted.
Pasit predicted 2014 as the golden year for the construction sector and his
company will enter bids for energy-related construction at a total value of
Bt25 billion.
The company also hopes to expand its business to neighboring Myanmar and
Cambodia with the construction of energy infrastructure. (MCOT)
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