Ministries ordered to help push Thailand as ASEAN hub

[webfact]

Ministries ordered to help push Thailand as ASEAN hub
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 14 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all ministries to propose Thailand as a venue to host regional fora in the South East Asian region, according to Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Deputy Spokesperson to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The move is part of the prime minister’s plan to push Thailand to become a hub of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Gen Sansern told a press conference on Tuesday after weekly cabinet meeting.

It is also expected to improve the image of Thailand, he said.

Meanwhile, Gen Sansern said the cabinet approved a budget of Bt30 billion for Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to support their fights against narcotics.

“Of the total budget, Bt20 million will be transferred to Myanmar, Bt5 million to Cambodia, Bt3 million to Vietnam and Bt1.5 million to Lao,” Gen Sansern said.

“The money may not be much but it shows Thailand’s determination to prevent smuggling of drugs into the country,” he said.

Gen Sansern said the cabinet also approved Thailand's ‘donation of US$25,000 in support operations of United Nations assistance to human trafficking victims.

It is the second time Thailand has donated to support the UN operations, he said, and the donation should reflect the country’s determination to combat the trafficking. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2015-01-14

[hupaknomore]

Why don't they accept North Korea into ASEAN?

Thait Govt has made my day again:

- “The money may not be much but it shows Thailand’s determination to prevent smuggling of drugs into the country,” he said. 30 bln baht ,with a "B" not enough.

-"Gen Sansern said the cabinet also approved Thailand's ‘donation of US$25,000 in support operations of United Nations assistance to human trafficking victims".

Really? 30 billion baht to fight narcotics and $25 000 for human traficking. Human life is worthless for Thai Government. Narcotics are more important.

[Costas2008]

Hmmmmmm......this is just rhetorics General.........

First try to bring Thailand to a descent standard, as you have already started doing, and then we can discuss about hubs and others.

As about drugs, try to apprehend the high officials in the Police and Army that I believe they control the ring of smuggling and leave the donations that they are definitely going to the pockets of the officials there.

Just a thought.............

[Ceruhe]

Gen Sansern said the cabinet approved a budget of Bt30 billion

“Of the total budget, Bt20 million will be transferred to Myanmar, Bt5 million to Cambodia, Bt3 million to Vietnam and Bt1.5 million to Lao,” Gen Sansern said.

Let's assume the 30 billion approved are the real deal...and those 4 countries get the added total of 29.5....million. Who wants to call dibs on who is pocketing the rest?

Let's assume the 30 billion are actually million....and those 4 countries getthe added total of 29.5...million. Let's throw in the 25k on the side. Somebody else feel like calling dibs now?

Human life is worthless for Thai Government

Not quite. It's worthless everywhere.

You just see everybody else chiming in with their indoctrinated "human life is precious" BS so they don't stand out of the crowed and get singled out.

You see illigal downloads etc getting nailed with some hardcore jail time, on the other hand a rapist runs off with a few years on probation. Money talks, not that human dispensable waste that just keeps accumulating.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Ceruhe

[JetsetBkk]

It is also expected to improve the image of Thailand, he said.

Yes but, once people are here, won't it have the opposite effect?

.

[Tomtomtom69]

Gen Sansern said the cabinet approved a budget of Bt30 billion

“Of the total budget, Bt20 million will be transferred to Myanmar, Bt5 million to Cambodia, Bt3 million to Vietnam and Bt1.5 million to Lao,” Gen Sansern said.

Let's assume the 30 billion approved are the real deal...and those 4 countries get the added total of 29.5....million. Who wants to call dibs on who is pocketing the rest?

Let's assume the 30 billion are actually million....and those 4 countries getthe added total of 29.5...million. Let's throw in the 25k on the side. Somebody else feel like calling dibs now?

Human life is worthless for Thai Government

Not quite. It's worthless everywhere.

You just see everybody else chiming in with their indoctrinated "human life is precious" BS so they don't stand out of the crowed and get singled out.

You see illigal downloads etc getting nailed with some hardcore jail time, on the other hand a rapist runs off with a few years on probation. Money talks, not that human dispensable waste that just keeps accumulating.

Read the article again carefully. It says 30 BILLION at the top, but underneath it says that 20 MILLION will be transferred to Myanmar, 5 MILLION to Cambodia, etc. so I think it's actually million, not billion. The Billion was a typo.

[jaltsc]

"The move is part of the prime minister’s plan to push Thailand to become a hub of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)..."

The reason there has to be a "push" is because there is nothing in Thailand pulling in businesses, qualified teachers, or customers for Thai products.

Perhaps if the education system produced graduates who could speak a language common to all businesses in the world (Yes folks, it's still English by a wide margin) and developed the skills necessary for today's high tech world, that would be a start. Then there are the common business practices and work visa fiasco which need to be changed to attract skilled workers, teachers and foreign business to the country.

Thailand has yet to realize that healthy competition is good for the economy and favoring non productive monopolies is the death knell to economic success. Hopefully for Thailand they wake up before the headlines read: "Thailand is eyeing to overtake Cambodia and Burma in business and production".

Edited January 14, 2015 by jaltsc

[MilesofSmiles]

30b for drugs (people willingly buy) and 25k for people smuggling (ruining their lives)

That's f\/cking disgusting

It is the second time Thailand has donated to support the UN operations, he said, and the donation should reflect the country’s determination to combat the trafficking. (MCOT online news)

The country's determination reflects it's determination.

[culicine]

I was feeling really down until I read this story. Thanks for the laugh! Thailand will be the hub of nothing as the wheels have well and truly fallen off.

[Commerce]

I was feeling really down until I read this story. Thanks for the laugh! Thailand will be the hub of nothing as the wheels have well and truly fallen off.

I order you to have a dump now. If you fail you face me!

[Scully]

Sounds like a token gesture to me, if it's just 30 million baht and 25k to the UN. The government are then seen to be one of the big players in the ASEAN, even if they don't really want to play.

[DKUNPUTAF713]

<<<<"As about drugs, try to apprehend the high officials in the Police and Army that I believe they control the ring of .....">>> Quote

Never will this happen in our life time.

Read some history of SIAM and you will fully understand!

[Gunna]

Why don't they accept North Korea into ASEAN?

Thait Govt has made my day again:

- “The money may not be much but it shows Thailand’s determination to prevent smuggling of drugs into the country,” he said. 30 bln baht ,with a "B" not enough.

-"Gen Sansern said the cabinet also approved Thailand's ‘donation of US$25,000 in support operations of United Nations assistance to human trafficking victims".

Really? 30 billion baht to fight narcotics and $25 000 for human traficking. Human life is worthless for Thai Government. Narcotics are more important.

Why don't they accept North Korea into ASEAN?

Maybe because you have to be in South East Asia to belong to ASEAN - have a look at a map.

I also think billion is yet another typo as the breakdown figures for individual countries are in millions of bt.

[Strangebrew]

Thailand is already the Hub of stolen Cambodia artifacts, of smuggled ivory, of drug running, smuggled cars, pirated video's and music not to mention happy massages, ladyboy theifs, and the famous farang suicide world center. Why they need another hub title?

[Suffinator]

Racism, discrimination, protectionism and nationalism ... if that is the goal of ASEAN then Thailand would surely be its hub.

Gen Sansern said the cabinet also approved Thailand's ‘donation of US$25,000 in support operations of United Nations assistance to human trafficking victims. Wow I don't know whether to laugh or weep in desperation ... a whole $25,000 ... maybe it would be better if the human traffickers were charge and imprisoned rather than moved to 'inactive posts.

If Thailand was 'determined' to stamp out human trafficking then it would have to start taking action against the perpetrators but in a land full or greedy and corrupt people that's not going to happen.

[razer]

STOP IT !!! Sick of HUB

[trainman34014]

Thailand is already the Hub of stolen Cambodia artifacts, of smuggled ivory, of drug running, smuggled cars, pirated video's and music not to mention happy massages, ladyboy theifs, and the famous farang suicide world center. Why they need another hub title?

You forgot hub of stolen Saudi Arabian Jewelry !

[wabothai]

A hub is something you earn. You cannot order such a thing.

[chotthee]

Why don't they accept North Korea into ASEAN?

Thait Govt has made my day again:

- “The money may not be much but it shows Thailand’s determination to prevent smuggling of drugs into the country,” he said. 30 bln baht ,with a "B" not enough.

-"Gen Sansern said the cabinet also approved Thailand's ‘donation of US$25,000 in support operations of United Nations assistance to human trafficking victims".

Really? 30 billion baht to fight narcotics and $25 000 for human traficking. Human life is worthless for Thai Government. Narcotics are more important.

Why don't they accept North Korea into ASEAN?

Maybe because you have to be in South East Asia to belong to ASEAN - have a look at a map.

I also think billion is yet another typo as the breakdown figures for individual countries are in millions of bt.

ASEAN plus one then.

[Bluespunk]

Gen Sansern said the cabinet approved a budget of Bt30 billion

Of the total budget, Bt20 million will be transferred to Myanmar, Bt5 million to Cambodia, Bt3 million to Vietnam and Bt1.5 million to Lao, Gen Sansern said.

Let's assume the 30 billion approved are the real deal...and those 4 countries get the added total of 29.5....million. Who wants to call dibs on who is pocketing the rest?

Let's assume the 30 billion are actually million....and those 4 countries getthe added total of 29.5...million. Let's throw in the 25k on the side. Somebody else feel like calling dibs now?

Human life is worthless for Thai Government

Not quite. It's worthless everywhere.

You just see everybody else chiming in with their indoctrinated "human life is precious" BS so they don't stand out of the crowed and get singled out.

You see illigal downloads etc getting nailed with some hardcore jail time, on the other hand a rapist runs off with a few years on probation. Money talks, not that human dispensable waste that just keeps accumulating.

Read the article again carefully. It says 30 BILLION at the top, but underneath it says that 20 MILLION will be transferred to Myanmar, 5 MILLION to Cambodia, etc. so I think it's actually million, not billion. The Billion was a typo.

I think that was what he was saying.

[rickirs]

"The move is part of the prime minister’s plan to push Thailand to become a hub of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),"

Okay, it's one thing for General Prayut to bully the Thai people into his ethics and morality; he has the power to do so. But his "push" to become the epicenter of ASEAN is purely arrogance on a grand scale. He has made clear that Thailand should LEAD the ASEAN Community, not be an equal partner. For a man who doesn't even have the political mandate of his own nation as a leader, he cannot and will not have any mandate from the other ASEAN countries to further serve his need for absolute rule over their lives. He needs to get rid of the bully ATTITUDE and treat the other ASEAN countries as EQUAL partners.

"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character." - Albert Einstein

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

"The move is part of the prime ministers plan to push Thailand to become a hub of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),"

Okay, it's one thing for General Prayut to bully the Thai people into his ethics and morality; he has the power to do so. But his "push" to become the epicenter of ASEAN is purely arrogance on a grand scale. He has made clear that Thailand should LEAD the ASEAN Community, not be an equal partner. For a man who doesn't even have the political mandate of his own nation as a leader, he cannot and will not have any mandate from the other ASEAN countries to further serve his need for absolute rule over their lives. He needs to get rid of the bully ATTITUDE and treat the other ASEAN countries as EQUAL partners.

"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character." - Albert Einstein

Sounds like you need some of the PM's famous attitude adjustment

[Flipguy]

What a joke!! Thailand becoming a hub for ASEAN? They don't even want other ASEAN member visitors living and working in their country! People from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore are not very warmly welcomed in Thailand. They sneer and find ways to stop the flow of incoming ASEAN visitors. They don't even offer jobs and business opportunities for these people! Thailand can NEVER assimilate themselves with ASEAN so for them to become the hub for ASEAN is a big big joke! I want to puke!!!

[Flipguy]

"The move is part of the prime minister’s plan to push Thailand to become a hub of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)..."

The reason there has to be a "push" is because there is nothing in Thailand pulling in businesses, qualified teachers, or customers for Thai products.

Perhaps if the education system produced graduates who could speak a language common to all businesses in the world (Yes folks, it's still English by a wide margin) and developed the skills necessary for today's high tech world, that would be a start. Then there are the common business practices and work visa fiasco which need to be changed to attract skilled workers, teachers and foreign business to the country.

Thailand has yet to realize that healthy competition is good for the economy and favoring non productive monopolies is the death knell to economic success. Hopefully for Thailand they wake up before the headlines read: "Thailand is eyeing to overtake Cambodia and Burma in business and production".

Spot on!! But I tell you, it's hopeless for Thailand with their stubborness and unwilling to immerse themselves in the international community!

[Thai at Heart]

Whats in "b".....

Meanwhile, Gen Sansern said the cabinet approved a budget of Bt30 billion for Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to support their fights against narcotics.

“Of the total budget, Bt20 million will be transferred to Myanmar, Bt5 million to Cambodia, Bt3 million to Vietnam and Bt1.5 million to Lao,” Gen Sansern said.

[Thai at Heart]

Meanwhile regional business, media, shipping, arts, investment, finance, employment, planning,logistics keeps its feet firmly in Singapore.

Where, you can own your own business, set up a business in minutes, trust the legal system, and get access to everything you need in the language of international business instantly, without the need for a useless sleeping partner.

However, a b**w job is a bit more expensive.

[CantSpell]

Thought it was already ASEAN's hub: Hub of trafficked ASEAN citizens

Happiness: 72 lao girl and 100 Rohindra (discovered) in last 24-28h: Hub Hub

[JB300]

Meanwhile regional business, media, shipping, arts, investment, finance, employment, planning,logistics keeps its feet firmly in Singapore.

Where, you can own your own business, set up a business in minutes, trust the legal system, and get access to everything you need in the language of international business instantly, without the need for a useless sleeping partner.

However, a b**w job is a bit more expensive.

I'm not so sure about the "Keeps it feet firmly in Singapore" part, a fair number of the Global banks seem to be moving a lot of their operations out of here (though none I'm aware of are moving to Thailand).

Back to the topic at hand, if the rumored 6/12 month, 2/3000 visas does happen then Thailand is perfectly placed to position itself as the "Hub" for people wanting to explore the region.