Bank Of Thailand To Report On The Impact From Japanese Disasters

[webfact]

BOT, NESDB to report on the impact from Japanese disasters

By The Nation

Some 700 Thais still unaccounted for after quake and tsunami, PM says

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will convene a meeting of his economic ministers today to assess the impact on Thailand from natural catastrophes that hit Japan.

Japan is one of the country's biggest trade partners. And many companies here have their head offices in that country.

The massive earthquake that hit Japan on March 11 triggered a deadly tsunami plus radiation leaks from a nuclear power plant - and the effect on trade and other ramifications are huge in scope.

A Government House source revealed yesterday that the Bank of Thailand and the Office of National Economic and Social Development Board would report on the impacts to the economic ministers' meeting today.

More than 20,000 deaths have been confirmed since the quake and tsunami 10 days ago and thousands more have fled the country.

Official records have yet to reveal any Thais among those killed by the quake and tsunami, according to Thailand's Ambassador to Japan Veerasakdi Futrakul.

The ambassador gave this information to Abhisit yesterday during a teleconference.

Speaking during his weekly TV programme, Abhisit said the list of victims released by Japanese authorities had not included any Thais.

"But there are about 700 Thais the embassy cannot contact yet," Abhisit said.

He explained that as more than 200,000 houses in Japan were still without electricity, it was possible these Thais had no electricity to charge their cell phones and could not be contacted.

"But now the Thai embassy is trying to contact them through other channels too," the premier said.

On the radiation threat from the damaged nuclear plant, Veerasak said an evacuation plan was in place with Thais already told where they should gather in Tokyo if radiation leaks reach a harmful level.

"We have buses ready to send to them to Osaka," Veerasak said.

The Thai embassy in Japan has helped its nationals get special airfares for those wishing to fly out of Japan to Thailand.

"Those who can't afford air tickets can seek further assistance from the embassy too," he said.

More than 4,000 Thais have already left Japan on their own volition since the disasters hit.

The embassy has arranged for 150 people to be evacuated on C-130 planes, and 46 arrived home last night.

-- The Nation 2011-03-21

[asiawatcher]

I don't think a true assessment can be conducted at this point as Japan is unable to collate data required necessary for other countries and trade partners to make anything other than "guestimates". There is no doubt economic impact for Japan will be horrible but in its favour will be sliding currency thus allowing a faster recovery in clamouring for Japanese exports whilst they are a bargain prices. More serious assessment at this point of time by BOT would be fairly baseless.

[ding]

I don't think a true assessment can be conducted at this point as Japan is unable to collate data required necessary for other countries and trade partners to make anything other than "guestimates". There is no doubt economic impact for Japan will be horrible but in its favour will be sliding currency thus allowing a faster recovery in clamouring for Japanese exports whilst they are a bargain prices. More serious assessment at this point of time by BOT would be fairly baseless.

I was wondering if Japanese exports would increase in price as supply is diminished and demand constant. I bet there's commodity and forex trickery afoot, though.