Thai Govt Needs A Credible Flood Prevention Plan By Next April

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WATCHDOG

Govt needs a credible flood prevention plan by next April

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

Japanese investors in Thailand expect the government to come up with a credible, comprehensive plan by April 2012 to prevent a repeat of this year's massive floods, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro).

That sounds like a deadline for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, whose handling of the flood crisis over the past few months has often been criticised by the private sector.

So far, foreign investors, especially Japanese firms - which have suffered the most, with over 700 Japanese-owned factories damaged - have viewed the government's industrial recovery programme as lacklustre.

First, the efforts to get all seven inundated industrial estates dry are moving forward too slowly, as some are still under water, preventing estate and factory operators from getting inside to clean up, repair machinery and resume production quickly.

The longer it takes to start the recovery process, the greater the losses in business opportunities as the global supply chain in the automotive, electronics and other industries has already been significantly affected by the Thai floods.

Beyond this, investors are paying close attention to the government's medium- and long-term solutions. For the medium term, most industrial estate operators are planning to seek soft loans from the government to build permanent concrete floodwalls higher than the existing ones, which were breached by the floods.

For example, the Bangkadee Industrial Park in Pathum Thani province is planning to build an 8-kilometre permanent floodwall around its compound at a cost of Bt350 million. The new walls will be 4.5-5.5-metres high compared to the previous 3-metre high clay walls that were ruptured by the water.

Rojana, High Tech, Saha Rattana Nakorn and other industrial parks also plan to invest in the construction of permanent concrete walls higher than the existing ones.

Estate operators hope that this investment plan will help restore foreign and local investor confidence in their industrial parks, as this year's massive floods have led to huge financial damage, with insurance claims estimated to top Bt200 billion.

Estate operators also need interim measures to manage the possibility of floods next year, as construction of most new flood barriers will not be completed by the next rainy season.

For the longer-term solution, the government needs to come up with a comprehensive relocation programme for factories that prefer to move to higher ground, such as in new locations on the eastern seaboard or in the northeastern region.

According to Jetro, most Japanese firms are in the process of weighing the pros and cons of renewing their investment in Thailand following the country's worst floods in half a century.

Due to the severity of this year's deluge, investors are now cautious and are closely following the updates on government plans for both short- and long-term measures to prevent a repeat of the disaster. In other words, they expect the Thai government to be clear on long-term anti-flood measures. If that is not the case, they may review their investment plans here or relocate to other countries.

At this stage, about 450 of the 700-plus Japanese-owned factories ravaged by the floods hope to resume production at around 70-80 per cent of previous capacity, while the rest have not made any decision pending further measures to be announced by the government.

As a result, the government will now have to race against time to come up with a credible and comprehensive programme on flood management.

-- The Nation 2011-12-10

[IMA_FARANG]

Yes, they do need a coherent flood prevention srategy, but we all know this won't happen, and we all know why it won't happen.

It won't happen because the priority of the current government is to obtain a return a to Thailand of "Great Exalted Leader" and avoiding jail time for him at any cost.

Any other government business is secondary to that.

As the saying goes, "if you want to know what's happening...just follow the money trail"

[pisico]

"As a result, the government will now have to race against time to come up with a credible and comprehensive programme on flood management."

Credible?

Sounds like: "tell them something they will believe even if we do not mean it."

Economic success thanks to foreign capital and tourist $ spoiled Thais to the current status quo and mentality:

"Never mind the floods and the losses in revenues and lives, the scams, tourists being ripped off, murdered, poisoned, electrocuted, systemic corruption, etc. this is Thailand and they will keep coming back for more."

[Thaddeus]

Hmmmmm.... that reminds me.

You would answer your own question if you would address the original question which was ...

Have you even looked at the predicted (at the time) and actual Tsunami economic impact and compared them to the current predictions due to the flooding?

The reason why I didn't answer this foolish question is because one thing has nothing to do with the other. Apples and oranges and all that.

Here is what started this conversation (your minimizing the impact of the tsunami compared with the flooding)...

Tourism is around 6-7% of Thailand's GDP. When the Tsunami hit it killed many people and destroyed hotels but rebuilding hotels and guesthouses is a lot cheaper. The people that died were mostly service workers, foreign tourists, and day laborer types. I don't want to sound crass but those people are infinitely replaceable. On the other hand when skilled employees are kept out of work and multi-million baht factories are destroyed that is a huge problem for the economy.

Edit: I'm done with this conversation as it serves no purpose to continue for us to disagree ... but I've bookmarked the page and we can check back in a months time when, as I predict, things will be pretty much back to normal.

Almost two months now, are we back to normal yet?

[h90]

Yes, they do need a coherent flood prevention srategy, but we all know this won't happen, and we all know why it won't happen.

It won't happen because the priority of the current government is to obtain a return a to Thailand of "Great Exalted Leader" and avoiding jail time for him at any cost.

Any other government business is secondary to that.

As the saying goes, "if you want to know what's happening...just follow the money trail"

But there is a chance....if you build a lot structures you can take 50 % bribe on everything so there is a lot money on flood prevention.

On the other hand, you could build nothing and take 100 %

[Skywalker69]

The flood prevention needs a credible Government.

[rubl]

At this stage, about 450 of the 700-plus Japanese-owned factories ravaged by the floods hope to resume production at around 70-80 per cent of previous capacity, while the rest have not made any decision pending further measures to be announced by the government.

Any idea WHEN they think (or hope) to assume production at 70 - 80% of previous capacity? January, April, later in 2012

[EyesWideOpen]

The last massive floods to hit capital occurred in 1945. So that means the government had 65 years to come up with a plan to stop flooding, and implement it. Yet they have not done so in the intervening time period. So why in the world would the Japanese companies think something will actually be done next year ??? Any thinking man knows, that the best indicator of future behavior, is past behavior....

[Chang_paarp]

I am sure they will find a plan or even two, BUT, it will be put in a locked filing cabinet, in room in the basement with a sign on the door saying "Do not enter, beware of the tiger!" (apologies to Douglas Adams)

[Thaddeus]

I am sure they will find a plan or even two, BUT, it will be put in a locked filing cabinet, in room in the basement with a sign on the door saying "Do not enter, beware of the tiger!" (apologies to Douglas Adams)

It was a leopard, but I don't think that he would be upset by that parody.

[PoodMaiDai]

Apparently, they also need a "freeze management" policy for in the northern part of Thailand.

[tukkytuktuk]

I'm sure this flood prevention plan is at the top of their list to do and that bringing back the Thaksin has been side lined. I think they should dig a giant hole under Bangkok to drain the flood water or relocate the capital to Chaing Mai. Anyway next year we'll be better prepared. I personally have some wellington boots and a plastic boat ready.

[Thaddeus]

Apparently, they also need a "freeze management" policy for in the northern part of Thailand.

And a Kevlar policy for the South.

[slapout]

As mentioned The northern areas have near or freezing temperatures every year, that I can remember. Each year the SOP is to plead for monies. donations, etc, to send blankets, warm clothing, etc to these areas. Now we have just recently pulled out the quilts, and warm clothing for the family and even the dogs. Most of these items are several years old, except for the dogs (they come and go).

Why and who would expect any different approach to flooding, drought, tidal waves that happen randomly, when a yearly occurring 'disaster' cannot be handled?