Japan Called On To Help Map Out Flood Prevention Plan: Thailand

[webfact]

FLOOD-PREVENTION PLANS

Japan called on to help map out

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Bali, Indonesia - In a move to build confidence in Thailand, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday called on her Japanese counterpart, Yoshihiko Noda, to help with the setting up of a joint working group for flood prevention.

She raised the idea at a meeting with him on the sidelines of the Asean Summit.

"I asked Japan to dispatch technicians and experts to work with us to map out plans for flood prevention in the long run," Yingluck told reporters. "This is part of our confidence-building measures, and I believe the Japanese government and investors remain confident about Thailand as they have agreed to provide full cooperation."

In return, Thailand will help Japanese businesses hit by the flooding of industrial parks in Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.

As requested by Japan, the government has agreed to waive tariffs for equipment and parts that need to be imported to replace or repair damaged machinery. The Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesman, Jesda Katavetin, said technicians who need to be here to help rehabilitate factories and production bases would also be given a 90-day visa.

Yingluck, meanwhile, briefed Noda on the government's rehabilitation plans and said she hoped Japan would continue being one of the major investors in Thailand and playing a key role in the development of Asean countries, especially those in the Mekong basin.

The two premiers met with the leaders of Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam yesterday to discuss cooperation on infrastructure development as well as disaster management.

At the summit, Noda offered condolences for victims of recent natural disasters in Asean countries and promised that his country would do its best to help out. He also thanked Asean for helping his country after it was hit with a double disaster in March.

Noda announced that Japan had earmarked ?2 trillion (Bt806 billion) for Asean and said he hoped the scheme would help facilitate unity and develop infrastructure in the region.

Yingluck said the grouping needed to forge cooperation on disaster-risk management, especially since climate change was affecting all countries in the region. She also warned of natural disasters eventually affecting the region's food security.

She discussed this issue in separate meetings with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung.

-- The Nation 2011-11-19

[noitom]

Yingluck knows where the money train is. She turned down the Dutch offer to help, but "asked" the Japanese for expertise. This is great! Asking a country who builds a large nuclear reactor plant at waterside in a high risk tsunami location, but turning down the Dutch who have expertise for 300 years or so at water management and flood prevention. Yingluck knows that the Japanese swing a much bigger you know what than the Dutch when it comes to business factory investing and frequenting the legendary Thai "entertainment" trade.

[E1717007]

follow the money not the expertise

[ExpatOilWorker]

Look how the flags are folded differently? One backwards and the other forward. Maybe a good representation of each country.

[jimbeam1]

A typical Thai response. In all walks of life. TIT

Or is it a case of pass me the bread & butter?

jb1

Edited November 19, 2011 by jimbeam1

[Chopperboy]

A typical Thai response. In all walks of life. TIT

Or is it a case of pass me the bread & butter?

jb1

Japanese are as clueless as the Thais.

Pumps and emergency generators located in the basements of Tsunami prone nuclear power stations - equipment that MUST operate to avoid a nuclear meltdown if service power fails.

Yep, better be asking them for advice on water management...

[PETDCAT]

Well if the Dutch had factories here maybe she would have asked them for help. But I am guessing the situation is more like "if you want your factories drained you better come over here and do it yourself" Otherwise we will get to it when we can.

[Chopperboy]

Well if the Dutch had factories here maybe she would have asked them for help. But I am guessing the situation is more like "if you want your factories drained you better come over here and do it yourself" Otherwise we will get to it when we can.

It more deeper than that, Thailand back to the 1930's has looked up to the Japanese as an Asian technological alternative to the West - essentially its racist.

[hankorstanje]

The japanese will do a great job protecting all there industrial estates and communities by building high wals and dikes around them connected with elevated roads to main sea ports and airport and leave all the rest to the thai to protect.

[cbc]

Yingluck knows where the money train is. She turned down the Dutch offer to help, but "asked" the Japanese for expertise. This is great! Asking a country who builds a large nuclear reactor plant at waterside in a high risk tsunami location, but turning down the Dutch who have expertise for 300 years or so at water management and flood prevention. Yingluck knows that the Japanese swing a much bigger you know what than the Dutch when it comes to business factory investing and frequenting the legendary Thai "entertainment" trade.

Here here.Agree 100% . Know the ole saying money talks and bulls_ _ _t walks .

[SICHONSTEVE]

follow the money not the expertise

Perhaps they can advise on where best to locate nuclear reactors whilst they're at it!!!!:jap:.

[yoshiwara]

Japan will have demanded from the Thai government what plans they had for dealing with future potential flooding of Japanese occupied industrial areas and demanded monitoring of such. The establishment of such a working group will have satisfied both parties that they are seen to be doing something and more importantly provide a bone for the industrial companies. Yes, kicking the can down the road and some companies may review their position. An opportunity for other countries to step in with offers.

[Scott]

Off-topic posts deleted. This thread is not about nuclear reactors in Japan.

[Payboy]

Yingluck knows where the money train is. She turned down the Dutch offer to help, but "asked" the Japanese for expertise. This is great! Asking a country who builds a large nuclear reactor plant at waterside in a high risk tsunami location, but turning down the Dutch who have expertise for 300 years or so at water management and flood prevention. Yingluck knows that the Japanese swing a much bigger you know what than the Dutch when it comes to business factory investing and frequenting the legendary Thai "entertainment" trade.

Well the Japanese do have a head start over the Dutch. After all it was Japanese experts who discovered that Bangkok was situated on a flood plain.