Thai prime minister graces TIME cover, signaling business revival

[webfact]

 

In an assertive move to announce Thailand’s readiness for business, TIME magazine featured Thai Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Srettha Thavisin, on its March cover The issue hit the newsstands yesterday, capturing the attention of the international community.

 

In a poignant declaration to the world, the 62 year old former real estate tycoon, graced TIME’s cover under the title The Salesman, highlighting his open stance towards business in Thailand. The cover story, an interview conducted by Charlie Campbell at the Government House, reveals the prime minister’s ambitious campaign to lure investors back to Thailand.

 

“Thailand is open for business once again,” the Bangkok-born Srettha asserted, signalling a significant shift in the country’s outreach efforts.

Since assuming office in September, he has embarked on over ten international trips, actively courting global investors and showcasing Thailand as a prime destination for business and investment opportunities.

TIME’s website accompanies the cover image with PM Srettha’s interview, offering an in-depth perspective on the prime minister’s vision for Thailand’s economic resurgence. The Thai leader, known for his dynamic approach, has been at the forefront of promoting the nation’s potential, emphasising the importance of international economic relations in the post-pandemic era, reported KhaoSod.

 

The interview provides valuable insights into the Thai prime minister’s strategy for revitalising Thailand’s economy, focusing on key sectors that have traditionally driven growth and exploring new avenues to attract foreign direct investment. The prime minister’s message is clear: Thailand is not only bouncing back from recent global challenges but is also evolving to become more competitive and welcoming to businesses worldwide.

 

In related news, PM Srettha made waves in Paris as he orchestrated a series of high-stakes meetings with France’s business elite.

From fashion to automotive technology, the Thai PM’s mission was clear: to solidify Thailand’s status as a regional powerhouse for trade and innovation.

 

by Nattapong Westwood

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-13

 

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[daveAustin]

Hilarious. He’ll be on the cover of Rolling Stone next! If only the people that read that tripe knew the score over here, that he is nothing more than a mouthpiece for a fake government. 

[bamnutsak]

The photo on the TIME cover looks AI-enhanced, it hardly looks like the PM.

 

 

https://time.com/6899782/thailand-prime-minister-srettha-thavisin-business-hub/

[Dcheech]

52 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Hilarious. He’ll be on the cover of Rolling Stone next! If only the people that read that tripe knew the score over here,

 

Tripe? Did you bother to read the Time article, or just read Thaiger's headlines & maybe their story?! 

Not a fan of TIME but four fifths of the their article is about the problems facing the PM & Thailand after two decades of internecine conflict, losing its lead in SEA, failed guidance by a non elected government, and the resulting economic & social  stagnation. Pretty much spot on. Which is why Thaiger does not mention any of that. Thaiger's job is to keep the facade & window dressing looking good. They count on the fact you will read their spin, but are too lazy to read the original article. 

[JoePai]

Quite the damning article - well done Time 

[brommers]

Would be more appropriate for him to be on the cover of Frequent Flyer magazine 

[John Drake]

Quote

The recent death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny in a Siberian penal colony—which President Joe Biden called “yet more proof of Putin’s brutality”—has added to the diplomatic unease. Srettha shrugs off any criticism. “Is there evidence that [Putin] is responsible?” he asks. “It’s a crime committed on their soil, if it is, indeed, a crime. We don’t interfere with other nations’ sovereignty.” For Srettha, the more than 1 million free-spending Russian tourists who visit Thailand every year take precedence. He has offered 90-day visa-free entry to all Russian passport holders—three times as long as Americans enjoy. https://time.com/6899782/thailand-prime-minister-srettha-thavisin-business-hub/

 

Good to see that the Time article noticed the pro Russian, anti-American slant.

[metisdead]

A post with nothing other than a trolling meme contravening our Community Standards has been removed.

[spidermike007]

Hey Sretta talk to us about sacrifices. What are you guys willing to give up? Are you willing to lower luxury taxes? Are you willing to offer a tax holiday for new companies? How about ownership of properties? Land? 5 or 10 year visas for management? Come on. Get real. Do something. Anything, but incessant blabbering, about policies that were designed by empty suits, that have no substance, nor any hint of progressive policy.

 

Some regressive nimwits do not understand basic economics. By reducing taxes you stimulate the economy. In addition, if Thailand reduces its punitive wine taxes and luxury taxes, they might be able to attract more of those rich tourists they keep droning on and on and on about. The rich are smart with their money. And not only do they enjoy a nice bottle of wine with dinner, their wives also love to spend alot of money on luxury goods while they vacation. Impossible here. Who would buy a Prada handbag for $11,700 here, when you can get it for $4,800 in most world capitals? Same goes for wine. Who would spend $700 for a bottle of wine they could get for $125 at home. Some flagship stores with luxury brands are intended to lose money, and the brands know from the very start that they're not going to be profitable stores, yet they consider them to be valuable forms of publicity and the need for the brand to be seen. Let me know the last time you've seen anybody and a Prada store in Bangkok.

 

Are they addressing critical issues, like the air and water quality, traffic safety, public transportation on the southern islands, rapid rail transport, and the lack of law enforcement? No. Nothing, and I mean less than zero is being done. These guys continue to occupy a self entitled dreamworld. Their gazillionaire status insures a total detachment from reality, facts, truth and practical concerns.
It appears that Japan is averse to what they see as the increasing influence of China here. That is a big issue for them. Also, the US-China Trade war, periodic flooding, with no solutions in sight, and the baht appreciation are issues. Many Japanese companies are exiting China. This is an opportunity for Thailand. But, the extreme incompetence here seems to be inhibiting the ability to move the nation forward. 

Will Japan continue to invest here? Who knows? Will Chinese investment pick up? Probably. Will that be a good thing? Probably not. The fact is Thailand could be doing a dozen different things to make itself more attractive to both tourism and investment. But, all the things it could do, to make itself a better version of it's current self, would require sacrifice and vision. Not something this army led govt. is capable of. Major tax breaks, drastic lowering of luxury and wine taxes, allowing ownership of land and homes by foreigners, relaxation of inane visa laws, ridding the administration of xenophobic ministers, beginning a program of hiring based on merit, improving traffic safety, paying attention to the air and the environment. The list goes on and on and on. Will any of this happen? One can hope. But, it is unlikely as this administration is one of the least progressive on planet earth. They love projections, prognostications, declarations and platitudes. But when it comes to the nuts and bolts, and practical improvements, they are absolutely lost in space.

[bamnutsak]

1 hour ago, brommers said:

Would be more appropriate for him to be on the cover of Frequent Flyer magazine 

 

He's got full use of a TG 787-800.

 

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/hs-tqa

 

Sweet ride.

 

Imagine how much revenue TG is losing by not having this aircraft available for deployment.

[Sydebolle]

Well, unlike his many predecessors he keeps smiling all over the planet and has not achieved anything bag (nor good for that matter but that does not matter) 😉 

[bamnutsak]

At least he is smart enough to resign as Finance Minister and appoint SET Chairman Pichai Chunhavajira as Finance Minister.

 

The first intelligent thing he's done. Sheer idiocy to have made himself Finance Minister in the first place.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40036329

[peter48]

We said it before especially those guys who knew Thailand in the earlier 2000s when the pound went further, we bought property, Thais were happier & more western tourists came to a more open better LOS. But there were the nay sayers, old conservative types denying that, saying the arrival of the Thaksin and the present government was same old. Well we said no, it was similar to the popular Blair years where UK was open, progressive, booming and more equal. So here we are now with Thai PM on the cover of Time, a world wide publication.. Lift your glasses guys & girls welcome back to a more  open and likely more prosperous Thailand. When the economy grows with with more exports, more inward  foreign companies and  investments and more tourism things tend to get better for all.  

[Wrwest]

4 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

The photo on the TIME cover looks AI-enhanced, it hardly looks like the PM.

 

 

https://time.com/6899782/thailand-prime-minister-srettha-thavisin-business-hub/

Thanks for posting the web link to the article. I would not otherwise sought it out. I read the article and liked its balance.

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, bamnutsak said:

At least he is smart enough to resign as Finance Minister and appoint SET Chairman Pichai Chunhavajira as Finance Minister.

 

The first intelligent thing he's done. Sheer idiocy to have made himself Finance Minister in the first place.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40036329

I have not seen that promulgated. Only a supposition?

[bamnutsak]

49 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

I have not seen that promulgated. Only a supposition?

 

 

I think I saw it confirmed elsewhere, but when looking for a supporting article I jumped on the first, The Nation, which is a rumor.

 

 

[BenStark]

2 hours ago, peter48 said:

We said it before especially those guys who knew Thailand in the earlier 2000s when the pound went further, we bought property, Thais were happier & more western tourists came to a more open better LOS. But there were the nay sayers, old conservative types denying that, saying the arrival of the Thaksin and the present government was same old. Well we said no, it was similar to the popular Blair years where UK was open, progressive, booming and more equal. So here we are now with Thai PM on the cover of Time, a world wide publication.. Lift your glasses guys & girls welcome back to a more  open and likely more prosperous Thailand. When the economy grows with with more exports, more inward  foreign companies and  investments and more tourism things tend to get better for all.  

 

https://www.khaosod.co.th/politics/news_1248096

 

[BenStark]

I wonder why they didn't use the actual cover photo in the OP. Especially the bottom line is interesting.

 

[daveAustin]

7 hours ago, Dcheech said:

 

Tripe? Did you bother to read the Time article, or just read Thaiger's headlines & maybe their story?! 

Not a fan of TIME but four fifths of the their article is about the problems facing the PM & Thailand after two decades of internecine conflict, losing its lead in SEA, failed guidance by a non elected government, and the resulting economic & social  stagnation. Pretty much spot on. Which is why Thaiger does not mention any of that. Thaiger's job is to keep the facade & window dressing looking good. They count on the fact you will read their spin, but are too lazy to read the original article. 

Lol, it is the same government.