Mega-projects Predicted To Benefit Big Businesses More Than Smes

The mega-projects are predicted to benefit big businesses more than SMEs

An academic predicts that the government’s mega-projects will benefit big businesses at the expense of small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs).

Utt Pisarnwanich (อัทธ์ พิศาลวานิช), director of the International Trade Study center of the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the mega-projects, with a combined investment of 80 billion baht, would help large-scale businesses grow by 64% while SMEs which have to compete in overseas market could grow by only 36%.

Mr. Utt said the income gap would also be widened, with earnings of farmers predicted to increase by only 15% while people in the non-farm sector could see their income grow by 85%.

He said the government should consider cutting down the mega-project investments given political uncertainties and the economic slowdown.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 27 May 2006