Belgium Sees Great Potential In Thailand As Asean Hub

[webfact]

Belgium sees great potential in Thailand as Asean hub

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- In March, Belgium's Crown Prince Philippe will lead a team of about 100 top businessmen from his country to help strengthen economic cooperation with Thailand.

Belgian Ambassador to Thailand Marc Michielsen said the Kingdom was in the perfect position geographically to become an Asean hub in terms of business and logistics, and many businesses wanted to use the country as a springboard to penetrate the region once the Asean Economic Community kicks off in 2015.

"Thailand is a hub for accessing other neighbouring countries, such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, which have a very high growth potential. Bangkok is very centrally located and has a high level of development to serve Belgian investors. Closer cooperation should strengthen economic growth," Michielsen said.

Belgian businesses are eyeing the manufacturing sector to service businesses such as the agro-industry, pharmaceuticals, energy and renewable energy, chemical, automotive parts and logistics.

However, Michielsen said he hoped Thailand would start negotiating a free-trade agreement with the European Union in a couple of months in order to boost cooperation. He added that Thailand should make a decision on the EU trade pact quickly so it does not get left behind.

He cited South Korea, which has recently implemented an FTA pact with the EU and benefited hugely from trade liberalisation. The EU is one of the key markets that Thailand should not ignore, especially since Vietnam has already started bilateral talks with the union. Once the EU-Vietnam FTA is forged, it is bound to have an effect on Thailand's competitiveness and ability to become a centre for EU trade and investment.

In addition, the FTA should help compensate for the loss of Thai export privileges to the EU under its forthcoming GSP cuts by 2014.

The ambassador, who is also responsible for diplomatic relations in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, added that Thailand needed to develop its education and training programme for workers in order to increase confidence and draw more investment.

He said developing education and skill-training programmes should be a priority for the Thai government because the lack of skilled labour is blocking new investment. Michielsen added that his country would be more than happy to help Thailand develop its education sector as well as set up training centres.

Michielsen said close cooperation between Brussels and Bangkok would ensure strong growth, with trade gradually rising by 7 per cent per annum now that Belgium is pulling through its 2010 downturn.

According to the International Trade Promotion Department, Thai shipments to Belgium dropped slightly by 1.82 per cent last year to US$1.74 billion (Bt52 billion), though imports from Belgium dropped significantly by 18.6 per cent year-on-year to $877.7 billion.

Meanwhile, Belgian economists have recently launched "Export Promotion: A Decision Support Model Approach", which offers guidelines on how to make the most of trading opportunities. In the book, it is suggested that Thailand focus on the service sector because it will help service industry expansion under regional integration.

-- The Nation 2013-01-28

[Payboy]

Hubba! Hubba!

[Pimay1]

The Crown Prince and his businessmen need to join TVF immediately so they will not be shocked by the requirements of doing business in the LOS.

[noitom]

The 100 "top" businessmen should bring their own Belgian vaseline to Thailand. Vaseline in Thailand is very expensive by the time you get done with all the skim.

[Thai at Heart]

Would be nice if someone had told him that foreign companies are officially restricted from entering the logistics and transportation industry in Thailand.

Better start looking for a 51% partner.

[Mosha]

"Belgium sees great potential in Thailand as Asean hub"

Thailand is quite capable of declaring itself an hub thankyou.

[prestburypark]

Belgium, hub of corruption, make the Thai's look like rank amateurs. Watch out Thailand, you may get scammed!!

[dcutman]

Belgium, hub of corruption, make the Thai's look like rank amateurs. Watch out Thailand, you may get scammed!!

Not according to this. You must know something these guys dont. Belgium rank 16 -- Thailand rank 88

Transparency international world corruption index (1=least corrupt)

Click heading to sort table. Download this data

[MESmith]

Hopefully, they'll set up a joint venture with Chang, & brew some decent beer

[Thai at Heart]

Hopefully, they'll set up a joint venture with Chang, & brew some decent beer

Very apt. I think someone else tried that once. Didn't work out too well.

[Nickymaster]

Belgium.....OMG...first they don't have a Government for over a year and now they are thinking about breaking up...

Edited January 28, 2013 by Nickymaster

[Payboy]

Today's other hub news as reported in the paper we cannot name - Thailand to be ASEAN hub of minting coins.

[prestburypark]

Belgium, hub of corruption, make the Thai's look like rank amateurs. Watch out Thailand, you may get scammed!!

Not according to this. You must know something these guys dont. Belgium rank 16 -- Thailand rank 88

Transparency international world corruption index (1=least corrupt)

Click heading to sort table. Download this data

Indeed, probably they appear squeaky clean, but scratch the surface (live there) and check the history, (fairly recent) out and my god, what a cesspit.

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962887

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/belgium-in-shock-over-corruption-scandal-1362650.html

http://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/nisarticle/belgium_2012

Add to that that the EU administrators (Belgian bureaucrats mostly) have failed to have the EU accounts audited..the auditors refused to sign the accounts off...for years. The investigators of this were removed from their jobs.

Just saying anyway, do not worry about the Belgians in Thailand and..should they get their fingers burnt, could not happen to a nicer bunch of folks.

[jbrain]

A few years ago that very same crown prince led a group of investors to China as well.

The media in Belgium is currently still making jokes about it.

[davejones]

The Crown Prince and his businessmen need to join TVF immediately so they will not be shocked by the requirements of doing business in the LOS.

I doubt they will be shocked. They have money, so they will get an easy ride. They will also be happy to follow the rules. Why would anyone who was interested in a real business care about TVF. This is mostly a place for the losers to complain about why they can't make it. It's never their fault, so must be the fault of the big, bad Thai authorities. If you can't do business here. then go someplace else where it's easier for you.

[davejones]

Would be nice if someone had told him that foreign companies are officially restricted from entering the logistics and transportation industry in Thailand.

Better start looking for a 51% partner.

Not true at all. A Chinese company will mostly likely be involved with the construction of the high-speed rail link.

[jbrain]

Would be nice if someone had told him that foreign companies are officially restricted from entering the logistics and transportation industry in Thailand.

Better start looking for a 51% partner.

Not true at all. A Chinese company will mostly likely be involved with the construction of the high-speed rail link.

That is because the Chines pay for it, wait untill it is finished.

I rembember a recent story about a German company involved in a don muang higway.

[dcutman]

Belgium, hub of corruption, make the Thai's look like rank amateurs. Watch out Thailand, you may get scammed!!

Not according to this. You must know something these guys dont. Belgium rank 16 -- Thailand rank 88

Transparency international world corruption index (1=least corrupt)

Click heading to sort table. Download this data

Indeed, probably they appear squeaky clean, but scratch the surface (live there) and check the history, (fairly recent) out and my god, what a cesspit.

http://papers.ssrn.c...tract_id=962887

http://www.independe...al-1362650.html

http://www.transpare...le/belgium_2012

Add to that that the EU administrators (Belgian bureaucrats mostly) have failed to have the EU accounts audited..the auditors refused to sign the accounts off...for years. The investigators of this were removed from their jobs.

Just saying anyway, do not worry about the Belgians in Thailand and..should they get their fingers burnt, could not happen to a nicer bunch of folks.

Thanks for the links, I have to admit, I know very little about the place, I do recall and do believe there was some Belgian ATM scams here in LOS. But not all that sure.

[Thaddeus]

Waffle.

[Pimay1]

The Crown Prince and his businessmen need to join TVF immediately so they will not be shocked by the requirements of doing business in the LOS.

I doubt they will be shocked. They have money, so they will get an easy ride. They will also be happy to follow the rules. Why would anyone who was interested in a real business care about TVF. This is mostly a place for the losers to complain about why they can't make it. It's never their fault, so must be the fault of the big, bad Thai authorities. If you can't do business here. then go someplace else where it's easier for you.

You know Davie boy this is the second time I have admonished you to learn to recognize satire when you see it.

Satire:

Noun

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of...

A play, novel, film, or other work that uses satire.

[prestburypark]

Waffle.

Thats right...the waffle mafia...

[Baerboxer]

Belgium.....OMG...first they don't have a Government for over a year and now they are thinking about breaking up...

Not exactly the leading economy in Europe .................. and well, er, not exactly the leaders in anything.

[puipuitom]

We have a word for that: "mouthwashing with honey".

The Thais are so eager to her how good, perfect etc they are they will even believe Thailand will be the next hub for schooling... especially English...

[Payboy]

We have a word for that: "mouthwashing with honey".

The Thais are so eager to her how good, perfect etc they are they will even believe Thailand will be the next hub for schooling... especially English...

It's also called "blowing sugar up someone's arse".

[Pimay1]

We have a word for that: "mouthwashing with honey".

The Thais are so eager to her how good, perfect etc they are they will even believe Thailand will be the next hub for schooling... especially English...

It's also called "blowing sugar up someone's arse".

In the US we call it "blowing smoke up someone's ass".

[sprq]

Hopefully, they'll set up a joint venture with Chang, & brew some decent beer

You expect a decent beer to come out of the Chang empire?!

[TackyToo]

"Thailand is a hub for accessing other neighbouring countries”

So are many other countries with bordering neighbours. This could be a statement made by a degree holder of the UNIVERSITY OF KHAO SAN ROAD.

Belgian Ambassador to Thailand Marc Michielsen said:

Belgium sees great potential in Thailand as Asean hub

And here are his reasons why:

the lack of skilled labour is blocking new investment

Thai shipments to Belgium dropped slightly by 1.82 per cent last year to US$1.74 billion (Bt52 billion), though imports from Belgium dropped significantly by 18.6 per cent year-on-year to $877.7 billion.

Once the EU-Vietnam FTA is forged, it is bound to have an effect on Thailand's competitiveness and ability to become a centre for EU trade and investment.

[Thai at Heart]

Would be nice if someone had told him that foreign companies are officially restricted from entering the logistics and transportation industry in Thailand.

Better start looking for a 51% partner.

Not true at all. A Chinese company will mostly likely be involved with the construction of the high-speed rail link.

What has logistics and transportation got to do with construction?

[Mudcrab]

We have a word for that: "mouthwashing with honey".

The Thais are so eager to her how good, perfect etc they are they will even believe Thailand will be the next hub for schooling... especially English...

Every second poster here seems to be an English teacher.........can't be much good at their chosen profession it would seem

[sunshine51]

Today's other hub news as reported in the paper we cannot name - Thailand to be ASEAN hub of minting coins.

Along with the Belgian's I can't help to wonder if this is all part

of Yingluck's many plans for Thailand....minting money....Hmmm.