BANGKOK, 7 June 2012 – The Transport Ministry is set to help make the country’s transport service operators ready for the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.
Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said on Wednesday that, for Thai transport service providers to be ready for a more liberal market when the AEC is realized in 3 years’ time, all operators should start picking up more knowledge how the requirements in other ASEAN countries are like, including respective traffic regulations and signs.
Mr. Charupong stated that, with business operators in ASEAN to collaborate more and go into more joint investment agreements, much is needed to be done for the Thai transport service sector.
Meanwhile, Thai Transporting Truck Association chairman Vasuchet Sophonsathien conceded that local service providers are not adequately informed about the emergence of the AEC and its impact on them.
He stated that most entrepreneurs still have no clue about how they will be able to expand their business into other AEC countries.
As a start, Mr. Vasuchet said that the association is joining related state and private agencies to hold a series of training sessions to educate those-in-need about routes in other countries. However, he is asking the government to provide more education and details in order to get everyone on the same pace as soon as possible.
