CHUMPHON, 11 Mar 2015 – The southern province of Chumphon yesterday held a training course aimed at preparing the business sector for the arrival of ASEAN Economic Community at the end of this year.
The event was opened by Chumphon Governor Wongsiri Promchana, with participants including heads of government units, district chiefs, and representatives from the private sector, state enterprises, and local administrative offices.
The Governor said that the event would allow the participants to understand more on the current economic situation in the province as well as the economic direction of Thailand and that of the world. The information would be useful for planning and making business decision in the AEC environment and unstable world economic situation, he claimed.
One of the trainers, Mr. Suwit Sappawittayasiri, a senior economist from the Fiscal Policy Research Institute Foundation, said Chumphon should capitalize on the amazing growth of 40% in its agricultural sector. He predicted that the value of agricultural products of the province would likely multiply and outperform the industrial and service sectors.
The economist indicated that para rubber and palm oil are the province’s two potential products with a bright future. Once their prices return to a favorable level, he said, they would bring a recovery to other sectors including tourism. In his opinion, adding value to agricultural products is the right strategy for the province.
