Blair to deliver address at BOI's confidence-boosting CEO forum

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Former British prime minister Tony Blair will deliver the keynote address at the Thailand Board of Investment (BoI) CEO Forum, while Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will host a gala dinner for the participants at Government House.

The January 17 event is seen as part of a government offensive to shore up international business confidence after the devastating floods at the end of last year, in which a number of major export manufacturing plants were badly hit. The CEO Forum will be held at the Plaza Athenee Hotel, Bangkok.

About 500 businesspeople from around the globe are expected to join the forum. Executives will share ideas and exchange strategies for doing business in a fast-changing economy.

"Blair will give the keynote address - his first at this event - on 'The Challenges and Opportunities in a Globalised World' at the opening session of the forum," Industry Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said.

Among the high-profile speakers are John Coyne, CEO of Western Digital Corp (disruption of the firm's output during the floods badly affected global computer production); Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary-general of Unctad; and Dr Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of Asean. The three cancelled other commitments to come to the forum and assist with the international confidence-boosting effort.

But all eyes will be on Blair, now an international statesman, and Yingluck, who is opening up Government House to host a gala dinner for the international business leaders. She will deliver a special address to the gathering.

Other speakers at the forum include Wannarat; Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong; Yoshihisa Kainuma, president and CEO of Minebea Co; Kan Trakulhoon, president and CEO of Siam Cement Group; Heinz Haller, executive vice president of Dow Chemical Co; and Akapol Sorasuchart, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

The BoI CEO Forum is organised by the BoI, the Industry Ministry and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. It is supported by B Grimm & Co, BEC Tero and Gulf SP. About 500 people are expected to attend.

The forum is part of the BoI Fair, which is taking place at Impact Muang Thong Thani through January 20. Prior to the CEO Forum, BoI will host a meeting of its Honorary Investment Advisers (HIAs), a group of international CEOs advising the board on international investment strategies.

BoI secretary-general Atchaka Sibunruang said the first HIA general meeting will be held on January 16. About 34 HIAs from around the globe are expected to join, hailing from Japan, the US and the UK, among other places.

The HIAs will participate in a round-table discussion on Thailand's investment strategies for sustainable development. They will also discuss ways of making Thailand the prime investment destination in Asia.

-- The Nation 2012-01-07

You're welcome to him. He's spent all our money - now he's gone to Thailand to spend all yours

Yingluk and Tony Blair - my confidence is boosted by 1000% (and still barely registers on the meter).

"......Yingluck, who is opening up Government House to host a gala dinner....."

Seems the only way to get her there is offer a free feed.

Calm down. The sad thing is, that slimeball would be giving a "keynote speech" at this event regardless of who was in government in Thailand.

Should have brought Bill Clinton. It would be a great holiday from Hillary.

All them girls.

Calm down. The sad thing is, that slimeball would be giving a "keynote speech" at this event regardless of who was in government in Thailand.

I somehow do not thing Abhisit would entertain Tony Blair after what happened at their last well publicised meeting..! .

I somehow do not thing Abhisit would entertain Tony Blair after what happened at their last well publicised meeting..! .

What happened at their last meeting?

Lets see if she shows.

Why anyone gives this slimeball the time of day is beyond me.

I pitty the poor Thai people if they listen to this slimeball. Between this creature and Brown, they destroyed my country. Thailand has enough problems of its own right now without his idiot interfering.

Blair needs locking up.

Why anyone gives this slimeball the time of day is beyond me.

What!!! Yingluck!!!!

Public speaking is a 'paid' job for Mr Blair........................ does he care about international companies & Thailand........... only for the time he's paid to speak!

Could of booked a real comedian for less me thinks

Blair needs locking up.

Thaksin needs locking up!!!

Public speaking is a 'paid' job for Mr Blair........................ does he care about international companies & Thailand........... only for the time he's paid to speak!

Could of booked a real comedian for less me thinks

............and non-speaking and non-turning up is a 'paid' job for Yingluck!

I came to Thailand to get away from Blair.

Blair needs locking up.

Too good for him. Send him on a tour of duty to Afghanistan so he can see first hand the British blood on his hands for being Bush's puppet.

If the ever so fragrant Cherie comes with him, perhaps the Thai authorities could be enticed into prosecuting her under the Lese Majeste laws for attempting to impersonate the Queen. Ever so regal is our Cherie. A few years in a Thai slammer would do wonders for her egotism.

I came to Thailand to get away from Blair.

Mosha - well said mate. Exactly the same for me. He has destroyed the UK, along with his stupid wife!! Both should be locked up for crimes against humanity and the British public!!

Tut Tut Ladies and gents, you never know, he might find a weapon or two of mass destruction, possibly in the Chiang Mai area of the country, heard a rumour George Bush and honest John Howard were going to holiday with the blairs in Pattaya, W.M.D anyone.

Methinks the high end sophenii will be kept very busy for a few nights there. . .

I wonder what speakers fee he charges nowdays? 50,000 pounds per event maybe plus expenses?

Blair needs locking up.

Might do if he skips over to Malaysia, he was declared a war criminal by a tribunal held there. Sad to see Thailand have yet to follow suit.

PS I do know the Malaysia verdict has no legal standing - shame though!!

Edited January 7, 201214 yr by sysardman

So Blair is speaking on: The Challenges and Opportunities in a Globalised World or "How I can stuff up the whole world, rather than just the UK, and make a fortune in the process"

He was a disaster in government and is now just a prostitute on the world stage.

I doubt if he has any real moral values.

He still accepts government perks and will take his ex PM's pension even though he is now a very wealthy man.

Even this speaking assignment will probably earn him 100,000 pounds, no doubt negotiated to be tax-free.

He is a disgrace.

I wonder what speakers fee he charges nowdays? 50,000 pounds per event maybe plus expenses?

The cheap #### works cheap and is on the way to Soi 6 to spend his speaking fee

best pm the uk have had,great guy and speaker,i will be going maybe wont get in the after party but who cares as long as i hear tony help the rest of the world.what ever he is payed it isnt enough

Begs the question: what is Blair doing over in SE Asia? Thought he was busy drumming up business for himself and friends in the Middle East? Champagne socialism at work?

Unbelieveable, the trouble I have had staying in this country and you invite lowlife like Blair with open arms, well full of baht of course.

He should fit in very comfortably with the bribe giving and bribe accepting elite he`ll be addressing. Maybe his wife will be taking time to visit the more salubrious parts of Thailand to drum up business for her specialist, paedophile representing legal chambers. From my vantage point here I`ve watched a few British PM`s come and go but Blair is the most lying, arrogant, self serving creature of them all. I hope he goes on a publiced fact finding tour of Yala and Narathiwat without his security while he`s here. Still, the Yanks love him.

best pm the uk have had,great guy and speaker,i will be going maybe wont get in the after party but who cares as long as i hear tony help the rest of the world.what ever he is payed it isnt enough

A voice in the wilderness