Small Thai firms should eye opportunities around the region, Surin says

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of Asean, yesterday urged small and medium-sized Thai enterprises (SMEs) to invest overseas and tap new opportunities within the region.

The Asean Economic Community (AEC) will come into effect in 2015 so small businesses must upgrade to stay competitive in Asean, which will become a single market and production base consisting of 10 member countries.

Surin, a former Thai foreign minister, told a seminar held by chambers of commerce from Nakhon Ratchasima and other northeastern provinces that the market for Thai SMEs will grow 10 times in 2015, when the AEC starts.

From the current domestic market of 64 million people, Thai firms will be able to sell to 600 million consumers in Asean as import duties will be zero for most products.

Surin urged Thai entepreneurs to upgrade their human resource skills and move into higher-technology sectors, as there will be increased competition from lower-wage countries in Asean.

New market opportunities will emerge in Asean, and government agencies will have to help the private sector tap them.

According to Surin, there should be a special state fund to survey and explore new opportunities for SMEs and assign bigger companies to be their mentors.

This will help Thai SMEs relocate factories into other Asean countries. He cited PTT Plc, Siam Cement Group and Charoen Pokphand Group as potential mentors because they are large corporations with proven success in other Asean markets.

In addition, banks and other financial institutions that have branches in other countries should also provide assistance to Thai SMEs to tap new opportunities in other Asean markets.

"It's necessary for more Thai firms to invest in other Asean countries and for Asean countries to invest here. Otherwise, the AEC will not become a reality because the current intra-Asean trade and investment is still low," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-04-08

In which language would they engage with Asean?

In which language would they engage with Asean?

Thai of course. Isn't that the most important language?

In which language would they engage with Asean?

Thai of course. Isn't that the most important language?

Oh no! Not the restaurant business again.

"Surin urged Thai entepreneurs to upgrade their human resource skills and move into higher-technology sectors, as there will be increased competition from lower-wage countries in Asean."

Because if you will it, there is a way. Just keep verbally nudging and everyone will eventually acquire such skills. It's a shame that this is all anyone can muster to improve Thailand's chances in the AEC.

Will there be a standard percentage of bribes and sweeteners levied across ASEAN?

Any suggestion for an international business which does not need English language skills, apart from food and sex outlets?

"Surin urged Thai entepreneurs to upgrade their human resource skills and move into higher-technology sectors, as there will be increased competition from lower-wage countries in Asean."

Because if you will it, there is a way. Just keep verbally nudging and everyone will eventually acquire such skills. It's a shame that this is all anyone can muster to improve Thailand's chances in the AEC.

Education is the key... and Thailand is in the last wagon of ASEAN. First thing to do is to invest massively in Education....

"Today in the Malaysian press:

KUANTAN: There will be 3.3mil job opportunities by the year 2020 and 60% of it requires highly skilled workers.

Deputy Human Resource Minister Senator Datuk Maznah Mazlan said as such, SPM school leavers were encouraged to take up skills training to build up a highly-skilled workforce in facing the transformation era.

“We have moved beyond the agricultural and industrial age. It is now the transformation era and we need a workforce which is knowledgeable, technologically-savvy, competent and boasts a competitive edge,” she said at the Akademi Latihan Kemahiran Pekan pre-graduation dinner here Saturday evening."

This thread is no more in the list of the forum? Do not find it???