Prayut expects new Cabinet to lift government's image

[Lite Beer]

Prayut expects new Cabinet to lift government's image
SUCHEERA PINIJPARAKARN,
PANYA THIOSANGWAN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha expects his new Cabinet line-up to improve the government's image, boost foreign economic relations and help open up new export markets.

The premier also told a gathering of more than 350 Japanese businessmen in Thailand that the amount of trade and investment between Thailand and neighbouring countries will further expand from next year due to a number of favourable factors.

Speaking at the "Prime Minister meets Japanese Businessmen" event held by the Thai-Japanese Association yesterday evening, he said Thailand and neighbouring countries - namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (the CLMV region) - will benefit from the government's policy promoting the setting up of special economic zones along its borders and the Thailand-Plus-One policy adopted by Japanese firms, in which Thailand will become a centre for investment in the CLMV region. Top executives from Japanese companies such as Sumitomo, Toshiba, Sony, Mitsui, Marubeni, and Itochu attended the event.

Prayut said the Dawei deep-sea port and industrial estate projects in Myanmar, near Kanchanaburi, will also facilitate trade and investment growth in the region, which will be better linked by the Mekong-India Economic Corridor Development scheme supported by Japan.

The premier said the growth momentum would be driven by rapid development of logistics facilities and transport infrastructure - highways, railways, sea and air transport - to boost competitiveness and lower transport costs.

In addition, he said the government is promoting the setting up of international headquarters and trading centres in Thailand with various promotional privileges from the Board of Investment (BoI).

Prayut highlighted the BoI's "One Start One Stop Investment Centre", which he said provides faster services to foreign firms wanting to do business in Thailand. He said: "I have laid down the foundation for higher value investment projects in Thailand to help the country avoid the middle-income trap with greater emphasis on research and development. I hope the new Cabinet will also boost business confidence and Japanese firms should also study the business opportunities that will be created by Thailand's investment programme over the next eight years.

"We are also working on a new public/private partnership [ppp] law to attract more Thai and foreign investors to join the government's various investment projects. I think Thailand can focus on connectivity in Asean [thanks to the country's geographic location]."

Kalin Sarasin, president of the Thai-Japanese Association, said the government would have to restore Japanese investor confidence in the Thai economy following Monday's deadly blast at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine. He said the new Cabinet, especially its economic team led by Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak, should also help boost confidence. He said Japanese and other foreign investors hope the new economic team will continue policies and projects initiated earlier, especially the policy to promote the establishment of international headquarters in Thailand. Foreign businessmen are awaiting details of this policy, as they want to compare its privileges with those provided by Malaysia or Singapore, according to Kalin.

Earlier yesterday, Prayut said his new Cabinet would try to improve the well-being of low-income earners, while admitting that military generals were removed from economic ministries in the reshuffle to improve the government's image. Three generals - Tanasak Patimaprakorn, ADM Narong Pipatanasai, and ACM Prajin Junthong - are now only deputy prime ministers.

Prayut said he was fine with the criticism directed at him by former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula, who said the premier had resorted to a "divide and rule" tactic with the new Cabinet line-up, as he wanted former ministers to be advisers who will check the work of the new ministers.

Government spokesperson Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd insisted that the premier would never use such a tactic. General Wilas Arunsri, secretary-general to the PM, said he had delivered a letter to Pridiyathorn thanking him for his service and offering him an advisory post. Pridiyathorn began packing his belongings at Government House yesterday after losing his position in the reshuffle. Former deputy PM Yutthawong had already done that.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-expects-new-Cabinet-to-lift-governments-ima-30267181.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-22

[BigBadGeordie]

Found an interesting description that covers the OP photo.

Although this species has a reputation for docility, they are very powerful animals, capable of inflicting severe bites or even killing a keeper byconstriction. They also consume large amounts of food, and due to their size, require large, often custom-built, secure enclosures, which can be very expensive.

[Thailand]

Not sure why more of the same would make any difference?

[Seastallion]

Yes, lift the image...it's ALL about appearances not substance.

[NongKhaiKid]

They gave him a job that couldn't be done and with a smile he went right to it,

They gave him a job that couldn't be done AND he couldn't do it.

[Seastallion]

They gave him a job that couldn't be done and with a smile he went right to it,

They gave him a job that couldn't be done AND he couldn't do it.

Because it can't be done.

At least not without a huge paradigm shift throughout the country.

[jerojero]

Pretty easy to lift, when you're currently rock bottom.

[Pattaya28]

So what was wrong with the last "cabinet" ?

Who selected the last "cabinet" ?

What qualifications did the last "cabinet" not have ?

What qualifications do the new "cabinet" have ?

Unreal !!!

[lovelomsak]

So what was wrong with the last "cabinet" ?

Who selected the last "cabinet" ?

What qualifications did the last "cabinet" not have ?

What qualifications do the new "cabinet" have ?

Unreal !!!

I ask the same questions.

I think he is putting all his faith in one man. The new fiance minister who if I amnot mistaken was the Finance minister when Thaksin was in power. Starting to see cracks in arquements against Thaksin., when the powers that be need to resource his men to get the job done.

[noitom]

He's telling Thais to improve Thailand's image. He certainly knows how to do it posing with the snake and having these other Thais cackle and pander over him.

[tbthailand]

Prayut expects new Cabinet to lift government's image

Now the writers at the Nation are just baiting us...

[waitforusalso]

Well he has certainly done well at quietening things down in Thailand;

GDP has quietened down

Exports have quietened down

Tourism has quietened down

[shirtless]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire comes to mind, We need less of these fools .

[Orac]

Found an interesting description that covers the OP photo.

Although this species has a reputation for docility, they are very powerful animals, capable of inflicting severe bites or even killing a keeper byconstriction. They also consume large amounts of food, and due to their size, require large, often custom-built, secure enclosures, which can be very expensive.

I didn't think Prayut was that big?

He does appear to be cultivating a Bond villain image a bit though.

[arfurcrown]

Well as there is a wealth of knowledge being posted here, perhaps our erudite posters with their political, economic and social knowledge concerning the current inherited situation here in Thailand those people should step forward and offer their services free of charge so as to put the country back on course as they see it.

Possibly they are able to offer letters of reference from the government of their own country of origin testifying as to their ability in their chosen fields.

I am amazed that the countries these advisers have left have as yet it seems not collapsed into political economic and social chaos a result of being bereft of such august and sage persons..

One wonders why it is these advisers actually left their own countries in the first place?

Edited August 22, 2015 by arfurcrown

[billd766]

So what was wrong with the last "cabinet" ?

Who selected the last "cabinet" ?

What qualifications did the last "cabinet" not have ?

What qualifications do the new "cabinet" have ?

Unreal !!!

Yet the previously "elected" PTP government used to rotate its cabinet ministers every 6 months or so, yet every one of them was hand-picked for the job because of their "specialist" qualifications.

Edited August 22, 2015 by billd766

[GeorgesAbitbol]

Well as there is a wealth of knowledge being posted here, perhaps our erudite posters with their political, economic and social knowledge concerning the current inherited situation here in Thailand those people should step forward and offer their services free of charge so as to put the country back on course as they see it.

Possibly they are able to offer letters of reference from the government of their own country of origin testifying as to their ability in their chosen fields.

I am amazed that the countries these advisers have left have as yet it seems not collapsed into political economic and social chaos a result of being bereft of such august and sage persons..

One wonders why it is these advisers actually left their own countries in the first place?

"people should step forward and offer their services free of charge"

I would love to do that but they would certainly put me in jail afterward for working without a proper visa...

[NCFC]

Thanks for the "but,but Thaksin" reference. A thread doesn't seem complete without it.

[Thai at Heart]

Lordy Lord. Can they lift performance?

[Lupatria]

Looking at the picture "Twin sons of different mothers" comes to mind.

[billd766]

Thanks for the "but,but Thaksin" reference. A thread doesn't seem complete without it.

You are welcome.

I was trying to maintain an even balance.

Something that is difficult in these heady days of biased posters.

By the way did I get anything wrong in my post, insult anyone or offer any untruths?

Just the facts ma'am, just the facts.

With sincere apologies to Sgt Joe Friday and Dragnet.

[NCFC]

Nothing wrong at all. You keep us well entertained

[baboon]

The reader will notice no mention made of the democracy and elections which were promised by this interim administration to be held in the very near future. This article should be renamed 'We're not going anywhere, pal'.

Yes I am aware that Thaksin is a convicted blah blah..

[baboon]

Thanks for the "but,but Thaksin" reference. A thread doesn't seem complete without it.

You are welcome.

I was trying to maintain an even balance.

Something that is difficult in these heady days of biased posters.

By the way did I get anything wrong in my post, insult anyone or offer any untruths?

Just the facts ma'am, just the facts.

With sincere apologies to Sgt Joe Friday and Dragnet.

joefriday.jpg

How is it maintaining an even balance when this thread is sod all to do with Thaksin?

[EnglishJohn]

Whatever he does, the image people have is a government of Army personnel who are wholly unqualified through competence or experience to bear the responsibility they are given.

They are there to change the rules to prevent another farce like the last bunch of dirty cronies then give power back to elected people. They should get on with that and stop playing with power by implementing policies whose effect will reach far into the future.

As much as I admire the General (compared to the alternatives) and the courage and patriotism he showed in saving people from being murdered by their own government, I can never forget the GT200 bomb detectors and wonder what other decisions have been made on a similar 'assessment'.

[Baerboxer]

The reader will notice no mention made of the democracy and elections which were promised by this interim administration to be held in the very near future. This article should be renamed 'We're not going anywhere, pal'.

Yes I am aware that Thaksin is a convicted blah blah..

Promises, agreements, even solemn promises and vows are things that seem rarely kept here or treated with much significance. Not exclusive to politicians but more a national characteristic trait. Similar in some other Asian countries, especially India, IME.

Elections - given the speed of reforms, the current progress to date, the shared "visions" and current situation? Not likely any time soon. Might be some discussion after the new charter referendum, but probably just that, discussion. Not going to happen until other events.

[klauskunkel]

Prayut expects new Cabinet to lift government's image

...a crane would probably be a better tool for the job

[wabothai]

photo shopping is pretty bad.

[a99az]

What a wonderful likeness!!

[metisdead]

A post containing overly derogatory comments toward Thais has been removed.