Thailand Falters As Its Neighbors Rise Rapidly

[IsaanUSA]

100 families? I'd say it's less than 10 that own the majority of Thailand with everyone else on the bottom getting crumbs. If you look at the big corporate names that own everything (ie. CP) they own large subsidiaries everywhere in Thailand.

Thaksin is not even in the top 10, and he barely makes the top 20.

http://www.forbes.co...es-11_rank.html

Networth in US millions:

Dhanin Chearavanont

7,400

Chaleo Yoovidhya

5,000

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi

4,800

Chirathivat family

4,300

Krit Ratanarak & family

2,500

Aloke Lohia

2,100

Chamnong Bhirombhakdi

2,000

Vichai Maleenont

1,500

Isara Vongkusolkit & family

1,400

Praneetsilpa Vacharaphol & family

1,050

Thongma Vijitpongpun

1,000

Vanich Chaiyawan

930

Prayudh Mahagitsiri

900

Surang Prempree

790

Anant Asavabhokin

750

Keeree Kanjanapas

625

Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth

620

Somporn Juangroongruangkit

610

Thaksin Shinawatra & family

600

Boonchai Bencharongkul

550

Kraisorn Chansiri

460

Chamroon Chinthammit

440

William E. Heinecke

425

Sunsurn Jurangkool

420

Wit Viriyaprapaikit

380

Worawit Weeraborwornpong

360

Nishita Shah Federbush

340

Pongsak Viddayakorn

310

Prachai Leophairatana

300

Vicha Poolvaraluck

265

Nijaporn Charanachitta

260

Niti Osathanugrah

255

Roongroj Saengsastra

250

Pete Bodharanik

245

Premchai Karnasuta

240

Prateep Tangmatitham

230

Chalerm Yoovidhya

225

Vichai Raksriaksorn

210

Porndee Lee-Issaranukul

200

Virot Thanalongkorn

195

Edited February 8, 2012 by IsaanUSA

[rubl]

100 families? I'd say it's less than 10 that own the majority of Thailand with everyone else on the bottom getting crumbs. If you look at the big corporate names that own everything (ie. CP) they own large subsidiaries everywhere in Thailand.

Thaksin is not even in the top 10, and he barely makes the top 20.

http://www.forbes.co...es-11_rank.html

... end removed

Must be pure envy on my side, but personally I'd be satisfied barely making the top 20.

[IsaanUSA]

100 families? I'd say it's less than 10 that own the majority of Thailand with everyone else on the bottom getting crumbs. If you look at the big corporate names that own everything (ie. CP) they own large subsidiaries everywhere in Thailand.

Thaksin is not even in the top 10, and he barely makes the top 20.

http://www.forbes.co...es-11_rank.html

... end removed

Must be pure envy on my side, but personally I'd be satisfied barely making the top 20.

lol, well yeah

[spidermike007]

The decline of Thailand's "leadership" in this area started long before the Yingluck government was elected. Vietnam has now surpassed Thailand in rice exports. That didn't happen overnight, but over a period of years due to the mismanagement in the Agriculture and Political structure of Thailand.

Lao, who's entire population is about the same as Bangkok, has had 3G service for well over a year, while Thailand has just recently approved it, and even then, only in limited areas.

Vietnam enacted a "Helmet Law", and with the aid of a Police Force that actually does their job, now over 90% of the population that ride motorbikes wear helmets. In Thailand it's more like 90% DON'T. But then, Thailand police aren't actually interested in enforcing the law unless their is something to be gained by it, which usually means money.

14 of the 38 (36.8%) of the companies affected by the flood have closed down down their facilities and moved them to other countries - Vietnam, Lao, Cambodia. How many more will do the same if they are flooded again this year, which has a very strong likelihood of happening.

Malaysia has a government sponsored program called "Make Malaysia My Second Home", encouraging foreigners to come and live there, with favorable laws passed to encourage that. Thailand, on the other hand, seems to do everything they can to discourage foreigners from living here. The joke in the expat community is that what Thailand wants is our money, but not us, and would be happy to have us come, drop off our ATM cards and pin numbers, as well as anything else of value, then get back on the plane and go home.

When ASEAN kicks in, Thailand will quickly find itself at a serious disadvantage due to the lack of English language skills, and slip even farther down the social & economic structure that ASEAN will provide.

Thailand was once the "diamond" of S.E. Asia. Now it is more like a cubic zirconia, and it's "value" is continuing to decline.

Yes, a police force that actually does their job. Something Thailand can only dream about. I inquired in Koh Samui, three months ago, about when they will have 3G service. They said in three months. Yesterday I inquired again, and they said in six months. Real progress! Why the lack on interest on the part of AIS? The lady working at AIS toid me about Laos. She admitted to being very embarrassed at how poor the infrastructure was in Thailand. It is reported that up to 60 farengs per month are dying on motorcycles in Samui. Being sent home in wooden boxes. Do the police do anything about it? Does the mayor, a prostitute names Ramnate Jaikwong care? No, his only interest appears to be to steal as much government money as possible. He is buying up hotels as we speak, with government money. Is anybody doing anything about it? Of course not. Thailand continues to sail backwards, at 20kph!

[spidermike007]

*Deleted quote edited out* sparbox2, you really need to stop whatever it is you are smoking, drinking or sticking into your veins and come back to the real world. But let's look at your latest inane comment for a minute. Vietnamese father is on a motorbike, wearing a helmet, has an accident, and thanks to the helmet he survives, much to the joy of his family. "Brave Thai" father is on a motorbike, NOT wearng a helmet, has an accident and dies, or requires long term medical treatment, thereby becoming a burden to the family he can no longer take care of. And if he dies, which is usually the case, he leaves behind a wife and children who now have no husband/father to provide for them. And as for the "brave warrior decent", get real! If you bother to read REAL Thai history, and not the myths they teach in Thai schools, the only people the Thai have ever really fought and defeated were the Burmese. And if they are such "brave warriors", why did they meekly let the Japanese simply walk in and take over during WW II without putting up even a token resistance. During the Thai - Lao War, Thai troops took over and occupied a small city in Lao. That night it only took a few dozen Lao troops to drive out the entire Thai Company and reclaim the city. No, Thai not wearing helmets has nothing to do with "brave warrior class", and everything to do with stupdiity.

I'm pretty sure he's/she's just being sarcastic...

Your history is pretty weak. The facts are: Between 1763 and 1769, Burmese armies overran northern Laos and annexed Luang Phrabang, while Champasak eventually came under Siamese control.

Chao Anouvong was installed as a vassal king of Vientiane by the Siamese. He encouraged a renaissance of Lao fine arts and literature and improved relations with Luang Phrabang. Although he was pressured to pay tribute to the Vietnamese, he rebelled against the Siamese. Thailand had virtual control of Southern Laos from about 1870 onwards. The reason why there are so few temples in Southern Laos, is due to an arrogant king who had the audacity to invade the kingdom of Khon Kaen. The Thai king at that time decided to invade Vientiene, and took over the entire region. As punishment, he destroyed what is estimated to be over 1,000 temples, dating back many centuries.

[swillowbee]

... seems to me that Burma's rise is a serious threat to Thailand's economy.

... the inherent advantages Burma enjoyed in the late 40's, then heir apparent as the SE Asian crown jewel, are still there (though some are degraded, i.e. legal infrastructure, air transportaion, etc.): water, power, trade route access, large working age population, favorable geography, minerals, gems, natural gas, timber, arable land, and on, and on, and on.

... if Burma gets traction and succeeds, I could well imagine Burma hitting the people of Thailand very hard.

... export manufacturing and services? ... about 76% of Thai GDP ... Burma opens to the world with: low wages; public policies genuinely welcoming foreigners; aggressive investment incentives; new commercial infrastructure; large population of competent English speakers; and on, and on, and on. ... I could well imagine Burma gutting Thailand's export manufacturing sector over the next decade.

... and then, of course, there is agriculture ... about 12% of Thai GDP ... who did Thailand replace as the world's largest exporter of rice? ... answer: Burma ... get ready for Burma to come roaring back ... with their well-developed global rice distribution network, Thais themselves might be the ones who lead Burma's return to world's top rice exporter.

... and, tourism? ... about 6% of Thai GDP ... Burma is light-years more attractive than Thailand, which has squandered it's best resources and is now well passed it's high-water mark ... Thai tourism might only benefit as a gateway to Burma (which might be but a pass through Suvarnabhumi only, or a few days layover in BKK), until direct air access is eventually established into Yangon from major gateways ... Burma will kill Thailand in this sector.

... while the wealthiest Thais will easily abandon Thailand and redeploy their investments to Burma, the overwhelming majority of Thais will be left with ... well ... farming ... a Thai attempt to advance up the economic development ladder to a service-oriented economy, or to capture higher valued-added export manufacturing, seems impossible to me ... least not until the 'social order' here is reshuffled, Thai people can receive something more than a "do just enough" education, amongst a plethora of inferior economic foundation issues (institutionalized corruption, rule of law, free press, principle based political parties, and on, and on, and on) ... another generation, or two, maybe ... until then, the wisdom of the King's Sufficiency Economy Theory will keep Thais fed (I believe the man has seen this coming for a long time).

... while opening up, Burma is likely to benefit from favorable support (both financial and trade) by developed countries ... Lord knows, anything developed nations have donated to Thailand has been largely a waste, even after 5 decades of sustained support ... jeez, just look at the place ... with diminishing global resources, the better investment in this regard will likely be Burma.

... if the Burmese get this right, look-out Thailand.

Edited February 9, 2012 by swillowbee

[IsaanUSA]

... if the Burmese get this right, look-out Thailand.

You're talking best case scenario. I agree with you that Burma has a very great potential, but the junta could easily send that into a tailspin. Also you can fly to Yangon directly from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Saigon and skip BKK entirely. Or were you talking, Narita/HK type of major gateways? (sorry don't know where the Europeans connect at)

What are your thoughts on Vietnam versus Thailand?

[xthAi76s]

100 families? I'd say it's less than 10 that own the majority of Thailand with everyone else on the bottom getting crumbs. If you look at the big corporate names that own everything (ie. CP) they own large subsidiaries everywhere in Thailand.

Thaksin is not even in the top 10, and he barely makes the top 20.

http://www.forbes.co...es-11_rank.html

Networth in US millions:

Dhanin Chearavanont

7,400

Chaleo Yoovidhya

5,000

Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi

4,800

Chirathivat family

4,300

Krit Ratanarak & family

2,500

Aloke Lohia

2,100

Chamnong Bhirombhakdi

2,000

Vichai Maleenont

1,500

Isara Vongkusolkit & family

1,400

Praneetsilpa Vacharaphol & family

1,050

Thongma Vijitpongpun

1,000

Vanich Chaiyawan

930

Prayudh Mahagitsiri

900

Surang Prempree

790

Anant Asavabhokin

750

Keeree Kanjanapas

625

Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth

620

Somporn Juangroongruangkit

610

Thaksin Shinawatra & family

600

Boonchai Bencharongkul

550

Kraisorn Chansiri

460

Chamroon Chinthammit

440

William E. Heinecke

425

Sunsurn Jurangkool

420

Wit Viriyaprapaikit

380

Worawit Weeraborwornpong

360

Nishita Shah Federbush

340

Pongsak Viddayakorn

310

Prachai Leophairatana

300

Vicha Poolvaraluck

265

Nijaporn Charanachitta

260

Niti Osathanugrah

255

Roongroj Saengsastra

250

Pete Bodharanik

245

Premchai Karnasuta

240

Prateep Tangmatitham

230

Chalerm Yoovidhya

225

Vichai Raksriaksorn

210

Porndee Lee-Issaranukul

200

Virot Thanalongkorn

195

Hardly a Thai on that list. Plenty of Chinese though.

[IsaanUSA]

100 families? I'd say it's less than 10 that own the majority of Thailand with everyone else on the bottom getting crumbs. If you look at the big corporate names that own everything (ie. CP) they own large subsidiaries everywhere in Thailand.

Thaksin is not even in the top 10, and he barely makes the top 20.

http://www.forbes.co...es-11_rank.html

Networth in US millions:

<snip>

Hardly a Thai on that list. Plenty of Chinese though.

I suppose the United States is full of Europeans, Mexicans and West Africans?

I may look like a German, my last name may be German, but I'm an American. My father is American, and my grandfathers are American.

Just because of somebody's name and appearance, doesn't mean they are from another country.

There are plenty of people in England that look like Indians, but they are in fact British.

Edited February 10, 2012 by IsaanUSA

[pastitche]

I don't know where you get your incorrect information from.

But my information is certified by Thai government, from Thai school.

All Thai student must be able to recite what I have said. So it must be a fact. The true fact.

Reading this post is indicating to me this poster isn't really an over the top Thai nationalist, but rather posting satire or taking the piss. Well done! But I think you're busted now so you can stop the act.

But it's been obvious since his original posts that he is a "windup merchant" - and why not on such a pompous self-opinionated and need I say it - racist forum

[soomak]

Thai and Thailand have no fear.

We are number 1 in ASEAN.

Number 2 in ASIA, after Japan.

We have plenty of rice in our field, and much fish in our water.

And above all, we have a great king, to much envy of all other countires in the whole universe.

Not sure if this is serious or supposed to be a joke...

But in any case, you forgot a few Asian countries, with (much) stronger economies:

Singapore

Hong Kong

Taiwan

South Korea

Malaysia

Israel

Turkey

Saudi Arabia

Oman

Bahrain

Kuwait

Qatar

Brunei

United Arab Emirates

and even Iran, Lebanon, Khazakstan and Azerbaijan have a higher GDP PPP per capita.

On the other hand, the Thai GDP PPP is still higher than that of China, but at the current rate of growth of the Chinese economy, this will change within 3-4 years.

Edited February 10, 2012 by soomak

[z12]

Glad to see them using the name Burma. I like that better than Myanmar.

Edited February 11, 2012 by z12