Groups note positive signs talks can end row soon: Thai business

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Groups note positive signs talks can end row soon
Erich Parpart
The Nation


Seven private-sector organisations maintain their support for negotiation to find solutions for the political turmoil that is beginning to damage the country

BANGKOK: -- The seven private-sector organisations that have offered a mediating role in the political conflict yesterday continued to press for negotiations to find solutions to the turmoil that is beginning to damage the country's basic economic foundations.

After a joint meeting yesterday, the core members of the seven business groups said they believed that negotiations could begin and solutions found, since there are positive signs from conflicting parties that they want to talk and parts of Bangkok have been relieved of blockage by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

The seven groups are the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), the Thai Bankers' Association, the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), the Federation of Thai Industries (FTA), the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the Thai Listed Companies Association.

They noted that the conflict had led to the loss of children's and other innocent lives and had created a deep and profound rift between the people in the society.

Apart from the loss of life, these organisations said they believed that the conflict had begun to damage the country's economy severely, as small and medium-sized enterprises, farmers and labourers have been unable to cope with the situation. The impasse has also affected investors' short-term confidence and is hampering the country's competitiveness in the region for the long term. The groups also noted that the tourism industry had taken the biggest hit from the four months of protest.

"For successful negotiation, the parties in conflict should not create any condition that hampers the arbitration process before they sit at the negotiation table. The best way is for all parties to keep the benefit of the country as a whole in mind," said Isara Vongkusolkij, chairman of the TCC and the Board of Trade of Thailand.

TCT president Piyaman Techapaiboon said the number of tourists visiting Thailand so far this year had decreased by 1.7 million, which was equal to a loss of Bt82 billion in revenue.

She urged the government to get rid of the ineffective state of emergency in Bangkok and pleaded that it find other security measures to control the situation. If the edict is lifted and the situation not prolonged into the third quarter, the TCT could maintain its adjusted revenue target of Bt2 trillion for this year.

'Not as bad as 2010'

She also maintained that the current situation was not as bad as in 2010, since only 48 countries have issued Level 2 or 3 travel warnings. In 2010, about 100 countries declared the highest warning, Level 5.

Paiboon Nalinthrangkurn, chairman of the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, said the current situation had affected the stock market, as projected growth of listed companies' earnings per share, previously expected at 15 per cent for this year, have been lowered to 6-7 per cent.

He said that since the beginning of the "Bangkok shutdown" imposed by the PDRC, foreign net sales had reached Bt1 trillion. He believes that gross domestic product will grow by less than 3 per cent this year.

The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) also agrees that negotiation is needed to end the conflict. It has urged state agencies to restart talks on free-trade agreements (FTAs), especially with the European Union and on the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement.

Payungsak Chartsutipol, chairman of the FTI, said these free-trade deals were crucial for the trade industry and if this issue were left unmanaged for too long, potential trade partners would look for agreements elsewhere.

The JSCCIB has announced that a Thailand-Chile Business Council will be established by the end of this month. It has also proposed the creation of joint business councils with Cambodia, Italy, Malaysia and Indonesia.

"Fifty per cent of all our trade with neighbours are with Malaysia, and more and more Thai investors are beginning to be interested in Indonesia because it is a large market with lots of potential," Payungsak said. "The negotiation of FTA deals and establishment of trade associations should start now so that the new government can begin its work right away after it comes into power."

-- The Nation 2014-03-04

[chainarong]

I continually keep saying there is no solution , there maybe agreements , signed pieces of worthless paper , the point is the country is divided in thought , that thought is hate either red or yellow, hate is destructive to the person and to the country, if piece once again prevails over Thailand flare ups will still occur because hovering still in the back ground stirring up trouble is Thaksin Shinawatra, who can't seem to see the damage he causes to the country and should permanently shut up.

[ramrod711]

I continually keep saying there is no solution , there maybe agreements , signed pieces of worthless paper , the point is the country is divided in thought , that thought is hate either red or yellow, hate is destructive to the person and to the country, if piece once again prevails over Thailand flare ups will still occur because hovering still in the back ground stirring up trouble is Thaksin Shinawatra, who can't seem to see the damage he causes to the country and should permanently shut up.

I agree, except for one small thing. I think Thaksin is entirely aware of the damage he has done to this country. He was forced to run, lose face and money. All this is simply revenge.

[noitom]

Another poster indicated "a worthless piece of paper." Based on an "agreement" and a new contract to serve the people of Thailand.

[expat888]

Actually, I am puzzled how these groups could have any affect on the current dilemma. I could see how it could affect the government but why would the protesters care about these groups? They disrupt Bangkok for months and they want an unelected government which they cannot win in open elections so I suppose this another show of nothing.

[Bkungbank]

Many SME are still under finance from house laon to car loan and daily children school expenses, a big stress to these people who has little or no saving, the crisis did affect them worry being sue for bankrupcy .Some vendors have repay daily loan to loan shark the thing are getting bad with such situation. It's good focus on enonomy and welfare of the people.