Deal Finalised For One Million Computer Tablets: Thailand

[OzMick]

And nobody bats an eyelid that it's now become ONE MILLION DOLLARS extra, for shipping by air rather than sea.

I suppose nobody considered sending the FIRST batch by air and the rest by sea (given that distributing the first batch would take a finite time, by which time the second and subsequent batches would start arriving).

Shouldn't they have people with a modicum of business acumen signing these deals?

Shouldn't they have people with a modicum of business acumen signing these deals?

Well I suppose they could have got the PM and former CEO of AIS to do it. Always assuming she could be found.

In a (nepotistic) family business, high position does not necessarily reflect acumen or achievement.

[thaicbr]

2,520 Baht... does that include the 300% import duties and taxes?

This was done as a government to government deal to avoid this as far as I know.

Just wondering if it were subject to import tax would that be on any bribe money as well since this would really be importing corruption wouldn't it?

Nope. The Chinese government decided it was against Chinese law to do government to government deals including a private company (scope)

And it took 3 months before the Thais got the memo.

[Buchholz]

2,520 Baht... does that include the 300% import duties and taxes?

This was done as a government to government deal to avoid this as far as I know.

Just wondering if it were subject to import tax would that be on any bribe money as well since this would really be importing corruption wouldn't it?

Nope. The Chinese government decided it was against Chinese law to do government to government deals including a private company (scope)

And it took 3 months before the Thais got the memo.

That's ok, they got loads of time before they obtain a million tablets, test them, train the teachers, bring electricity to those thousands of schools without it, and install WiFi in the tens of thousands of schools without it, before it all kicks of, as announced, in mid-May.

.

[kimamey]

And nobody bats an eyelid that it's now become ONE MILLION DOLLARS extra, for shipping by air rather than sea.

I suppose nobody considered sending the FIRST batch by air and the rest by sea (given that distributing the first batch would take a finite time, by which time the second and subsequent batches would start arriving).

Shouldn't they have people with a modicum of business acumen signing these deals?

Shouldn't they have people with a modicum of business acumen signing these deals?

Well I suppose they could have got the PM and former CEO of AIS to do it. Always assuming she could be found.

In a (nepotistic) family business, high position does not necessarily reflect acumen or achievement.

I was being sarcastic of course but you are quite right and it's difficult to know how good she really was as CEO when we don't know the extent to which she was helped. Even as PM we never really get to she her working as herself. It's possible that if she'd come in to politics in the normal way and worked her way up she may have been very good but we will never know and neither will she. Oh and before you mention it I know that there's nothing normal about Thai politics but I'm sure you know what I mean.

[koosdeboer]

In South Korean classrooms, digital textbook revolution meets some resistance

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-south-korean-classrooms-digital-textbook-revolution-meets-some-resistance/2012/03/21/gIQAxiNGYS_story_1.html

[lomatopo]

Half-expecting a glut of these to show up at Khlong Thom.

[ginjag]

Another HUB for Thailand, doing first class deals -shopping overseas for sCRAP electronics. and even before they have the infrastructure in place, or the tutors tutored, plus the second hand shops are not enough to cope with the first months sellers.

A really brilliant stupid idea, so well thought beforehand...........or was it an election promise that will hit the turd fan. 555 Ha Ha

[thaicbr]

In South Korean classrooms, digital textbook revolution meets some resistance

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-south-korean-classrooms-digital-textbook-revolution-meets-some-resistance/2012/03/21/gIQAxiNGYS_story_1.html

that was an interesting read. if Korea is 2nd thinking e-books etc then Thailand should take notice. let's face it they already have the infrastructure in place. not to mention home grown manufacturing.

Thailand are not even keeping the money spent in Thailand. there are companies here that could do it with a reasonable roll out. but no. lets give the jobs and money to China. brilliant ... <deleted>

[bobl]

In South Korean classrooms, digital textbook revolution meets some resistance

http://www.washingto...YS_story_1.html

I don't know if it's just me but far as I could make out, the only "resistance" in this article is coming from "education officials" (i.e. government - always well known for having their fingers on the pulse) and the printing industry.