Experts Urge Thailand To Make Most Of China

[webfact]

Experts urge Thailand to make most of China
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Sucheera Pinijparakarn
The Nation


Banthoon

BANGKOK: -- Thailand should focus on more bilateral trade and investment with China, especially as it is fast becoming the world's most important market, experts on international economy advised recently.

Speaking at the Thailand-China Business Council seminar on "Looking Global, Looking at Thailand into 2015", Supachai Panitchpakdi said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that Thailand will have with 15 countries, including China, will be key to ensure long-term growth and will drive the global economy. Supachai is secretary-general at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

He said Thailand needed to boost its overseas investments, especially in China, as a strategy to promote business growth. He added that waiting for foreign investment was not efficient for growth, but instead Thailand needed to encourage more enterprises to invest abroad, especially in Asean, China and other Asian markets to make the most of the RCEP integration.

He said investing overseas did not just mean finding new markets but also exchanging technology. In addition, h expressed concerns about the small bubble in Thailand's property market, as it could expand and cause economic problems in the future. He called on relevant agencies to keep an eye on property prices, especially those of condominiums, and closely monitor the granting of loans.

Thanakorn Seriburi, chairman to the Thailand-China Business Council, said the mainland was one of the strongest nations at present and Thailand should not ignore its opportunities. In the past, only small and medium-sized enterprises from China invested in Thailand, but now Chinese investors are more important as they have access to huge capital, technology and expertise. He pointed out that large Chinese enterprises were planning to invest more in Thailand and other Asean nations, focusing on ports and infrastructure development as well as logistics and steel.

He added that a strong currency should not hurt the Thai economy and export as long as it does not fluctuate too much. However, if the baht does appreciate to Bt28 against the greenback, it could hurt Thai export growth and the economy in the long run as Thailand relies on export growth.

China's Ambassador to Thailand Guan Mu said his country would have some changes in policies and development now that the leadership has changed, but reckoned that Beijing would possibly place more emphasis on sustainable development by cooperating with trading partners, particularly Asean countries.

"Since Asean is moving toward the Asean Economic Community [AEC] by 2015 and integrating with six trading partners, the region will play a more significant role as major trading partner with China. Trade and investment between both sides should grow gradually," the ambassador said.

Speaking at the same seminar, Banthoon Lamsam, chief executive officer of Kasikornbank, called on the government to upgrade the country's infrastructure in terms of education, telecom and transportation, as well as laws in preparing to enhance the country's competitiveness.

Banthoon added that the government should focus on establishing a firm financial status, saying problems would not be easy to solve if the country starts overspending.

He cited the United States and the European Union as examples of overspending without being cautious about their financial status.

He pointed out that trade between Thailand, China, Japan and Asean was rising, though neighbouring countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam were fast becoming contenders in attracting foreign investment.

He said a change in the management structure in Thailand was essential to serve foreign investment, and Thai businesses should also think about investing outside the country, as it is no longer labour intensive.

He said the Kingdom had learn how to work with foreigners, especially Chinese, and understand their working style. He also said that Thai firms needed to change their mindset and start thinking about re-branding.

Banks can help with business matching, which is a trend for global trade, he added.


-- The Nation 2013-03-16

[Markaew]

"He said the Kingdom had learn how to work with foreigners, especially Chinese, and understand their working style. He also said that Thai firms needed to change their mindset and start thinking about re-branding."

This article is absolutely laughable. More of the same rhetoric with hollow intent. "The Kingdom has learned how to work with foreigners". In your dreams! This is fantasy of how they wish they COULD be. "Re-brand" what? Re-brand implies an intent to change and adapt! Again fantasy! The desperation is setting in and the elites are panicking about how they can exploit other countries without actually achieving free trade.

Thailand is also trying to manipulate the US because the US is trying have influence in the region. Why not push the US into some kind of "financial package" to keep influence with Thailand? If the Thai women can easily scam American men, why can't Thailand scam a whole country? Another day in Thailand.

[noitom]

"He said a change in the management structure in Thailand was essential to serve foreign investment, and Thai businesses should also think about investing outside the country, as it is no longer labour intensive."

Does anyone know what the above sentence is supposed to mean/say?

[Locationthailand]

More 'expert' advices - a strong currency should not hurt the Thai economy and export...

With USD and Euro in deep yoghurt I doubt it is the strength of THB, rather the failure of those currencies.

[nevets]

If you sell your sole to the devel be carefull what he wants for it in exchange.

[doggie888888]

"He said a change in the management structure in Thailand was essential to serve foreign investment, and Thai businesses should also think about investing outside the country, as it is no longer labour intensive."

Does anyone know what the above sentence is supposed to mean/say?

I think it means the following:

Don't make someone CEO or Director of Important Thingy because Daddy owns the whole company, half the cabinet, a few judges and one fifth of the military. Promote on merit, not connections.

Need to invest outside Thailand because the bloody peasants are starting to get a bit uppity here, so let's go somewhere else where it is easier to exploit the workers; no silly demands for minimum wages.

[seminomadic]

Could we get a little bigger picture of Bonthoon? I'd like to be able to count the blackheads on his nose & see whether or not he has any folliculitis.

[webfact]

Thailand-China trade forecast at US$100 billion in next 3 years
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, March 16 – Trade and investment between Thailand and China will reach US$100 billion in 2015, a sharp increase from US$69.7 billion last year, according to the Thai ambassador to Beijing.

Wiboon Kusakul said a vast country like China is an ideal market for Thailand’s trade and investment, while newly elected president Xi Jinping has announced his support for boosting international trade.

Thailand’s investment in China is currently more than US$6 billion.

Chinese ambassador to Bangkok Guan Mu said the new president’s policies will contribute to development in China.

He added that the United States’ increasing interest in Southeast Asia will be beneficial to the region as a whole. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-03-16

[rubl]

Experts urge, but the government already does! Like the sales of 20,000 tonne Hom Mali at close to 50% profit

[MaxLee]

The Chinese are already here, with the only difference that they have branded themselves as the Elite of Thailand, since in the early days, they have brought this system of feudal corruption, cheating and brainwashing to Thailand.

By letting China dominate Thailand, this country will be in trouble 444444ever, with no return.

[Tomtomtom69]

"He said the Kingdom had learn how to work with foreigners, especially Chinese, and understand their working style. He also said that Thai firms needed to change their mindset and start thinking about re-branding."

This article is absolutely laughable. More of the same rhetoric with hollow intent. "The Kingdom has learned how to work with foreigners". In your dreams! This is fantasy of how they wish they COULD be. "Re-brand" what? Re-brand implies an intent to change and adapt! Again fantasy! The desperation is setting in and the elites are panicking about how they can exploit other countries without actually achieving free trade.

Thailand is also trying to manipulate the US because the US is trying have influence in the region. Why not push the US into some kind of "financial package" to keep influence with Thailand? If the Thai women can easily scam American men, why can't Thailand scam a whole country? Another day in Thailand.

I think with the Chinese becoming the masters of the world, the Thais WILL have to change to their ways, not the other way round. The Chinese always win and get things done their way - anywhere in the world. The reason why Thais haven't quite adopted western standards is that westerners have never moved to Thailand in large numbers - usually there is only 1-2 westerners in any given Thai (or foreign) company in Thailand anyway so due to the much larger numbers of Thais, westerners can't win.

Edited March 16, 2013 by Tomtomtom69

[Publicus]

Thai "experts" need to stop thinking about hollow and vacuuous terms such as a "rebranding" of Thailand to instead begin to transform Thailand substantively. Where's Thailand's Aung San Suu Kyi? Where's Thailand's Nelson Mandella? Thai elites need to get a lot sharper upstairs before they seriously consider kowtowing to Beijing. The CCP's economy is built on quicksand while its military is ever more aggressive. Beijing claims territorial sovereignty to the entire South China Sea which should be renamed the South East Asia Sea given China's shoreline on the sea is 2700 km while the shoreline of Asean countries totals 130,000 km.

Beijing knows its CCP cannot become a global power unless it first becomes a regional power. The link below from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington notes Thailand is the oldest Asia treaty ally of the United States, is a non-NATO ally of the U.S., and discusses Pres Obama's "Pivot to the Pacific" strategy, to include his post reelection visits last year to Myanmar, Thailand and the Asean Forum in Phenom Penh. The focus however is on trying to get Beijing to participate in an international system as well as regional structures and systems which attempt to establish rules and the rule of law itself.

http://csis.org/publication/obama-trip-shows-purposeful-asia-focus-second-term

Unmentioned in this Thai razzle dazzle of dizzying Thai assumptions and presumptions is the recent document of the Australian government, i.e., its just released National Security Strategy which assesses Australia's relationship with the Boyz in Beijing vis a vis Australia's values of liberal democracy and its historical and future relationship with the United States. A Lowery Institute poll last year found upwards of half of Australians concerned about China dominating the East Asia region, militarily in particular. Here's the link to the CSIS analysis of the new Australia NSS:

http://csis.org/publication/australias-national-security-strategy-lessons-pivot-down-under

[Publicus]

Further, here's another link to the CSIS analysis of how Thaksin, Abhisit and Yingluck have expanded military ties with the CCP in Beijing in deals and agreements that have gone without public announcements, scrutiny, knowledge:

http://cogitasia.com/expanding-military-to-military-engagement-china-and-thailand/

Supachai and Wiboon - in fact the whole gang of 'em - need to discuss the quiet, behind closed doors deals they've made with the Boyz in Uniform in Beijing before talking of further ties to the dictators in Zhongnanhai.

[Locationthailand]

An increase of 40% in two years? So how is will that be achieved? By selling them cheap rice? There is never an explanation to any of these 'expert' claims is there?

[justathought]

This is natural progression with the Chinese Thai elite looking back to motherland.

This is just another Asian country that is drifting away from USA. All that remains is for the Koreans to understand that it is USA that is hammering the nail into their coffin and Asia can be free from outsiders

[Thai at Heart]

CP and others have been there for yonks.

Maybe they think Toyota is a Thai company or something

[GoodWesternGuy]

I have visited China 19 times and lived there for 6 months at a time. Was married to a beautiful Chinese woman. If you think doing business with Thai people is difficult, you are in for a huge awakening. Unles you have Guanxi [Connections] you are totally screwed.

[Publicus]

This is natural progression with the Chinese Thai elite looking back to motherland.

This is just another Asian country that is drifting away from USA. All that remains is for the Koreans to understand that it is USA that is hammering the nail into their coffin and Asia can be free from outsiders

Thailand plays both sides of the fence; always has, always will.

The problem of the dictators in Beijing is that they know they need to be a regional power before they can become a global power. Beijing is backing down from outrageous territorial claims because it is finding out that the CCP cannot break out of this region to envelop the world. The East Asia region includes Japan which bites back when Beijing tries another brazen land grab, South Korea is making Beijing sweat Poyngyang as Kim-Kim-Kim continue to flout Beijing's horrors of having a nuclear Korean Peninsula (and every democracy's horror). Taiwan stands independently, its parliament having voted to deny a visa to any CCP-PRC official suspected or proven to have violated human rights on the mainland. The Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore - and India - are integrating their economies and their military activities on land, sea and air to protect themselves against Beijing's ever increasing belligerence towards East Asia. The CCP-PRC is indeed the menacing East Asia neighbor from hell to the governments and populations of the region, which is not anywhere or anytime near permitting the censoring, punishing, fascist dictators in Beijing to become the regional power of East Asia.

There isn't any single power in East Asia, not since WW2. While East Asians have learned the lessons of the period 1926-45, and 1950-53, the Chinese haven't ever been in touch with reality. It is a trait of the Chinese sheeple and their leaders, who always have lived in their own fantasy world as legends in their own minds. Edited March 16, 2013 by Publicus

[bigbamboo]

I have visited China 19 times and lived there for 6 months at a time. Was married to a beautiful Chinese woman. If you think doing business with Thai people is difficult, you are in for a huge awakening. Unles you have Guanxi [Connections] you are totally screwed.

Maybe they resented you having a beautiful Chinese wife?

[TheGhostWithin]

China is only a a rising power whilst western money funds its' banks and factories, and continues to buy its' goods.

Sorry, the money flow is already slowing, and growth is faltering.

Thailand is trying to surf at low tide, hours after the last big wave passed through.

Where do I form my opinion from?

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=000001.SS&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=%5EFTSE%2C%5EBSESN%2C%5EKLSE%2C%5EBVSP&ql=1&c=%5EGSPC&c=%5EIXIC&c=%5EDJI - why have all American markets risen, other BRIC nations such as Brazil risen, and markets such as London which have been in recession risen, when Chinese markets have fallen?

The attached image, which shows Chinese PMI (a guide on industrial expansion within China) has been falling since 2009, and is now bordering on contraction.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-15/china-banks-bad-loans-rise-for-fourth-quarter-as-economy-slows.html - this report from Bloomberg, which confirms bad loans in China (loans in which borrowers could not or would not meet repayments) rise for the 4th quarter in a row, being the last 4 quarters, all of last year. The next quarter is due for release in the next few weeks, don't expect it to get any better.

The above reports date to suggest that the 40% drop in share values indicates a flow of foreign investment being withdrawn from China, causing loans which were used to fund expansion and create artificially high profits to go unpaid. The next step will be an increase in unemployment. But hey, at least that out of control inflation will stabilize..

Has the penny dropped yet Thailand? You are too late, the money has been made and China is now a fools market..

Edited March 17, 2013 by TheGhostWithin

[GoodWesternGuy]

I have visited China 19 times and lived there for 6 months at a time. Was married to a beautiful Chinese woman. If you think doing business with Thai people is difficult, you are in for a huge awakening. Unles you have Guanxi [Connections] you are totally screwed.

Maybe they resented you having a beautiful Chinese wife?

No it is just the way of doing business there. You have to really get to know people. In the west we are used to meeting and doing business. In China you first have to meet and socialize - often several times before you even discuss business.

Edited March 17, 2013 by GoodWesternGuy