Thailand embarks on new economic drive
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government is gearing up for tighter competition in the region with a host of measures to drive economic development, setting out mega projects as a springboard to get out of the middle income trap and becoming the industry and trade hub in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Thanasak Patimapragorn said on Wednesday that the new drive would create leverage for the ASEAN countries in international relations.

“In becoming the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of 2015, ASEAN will be a major force in the region. We want to come back strongly, and if we are together in this, we are stronger. We want our voice to be heard by others. That is our objective,” he said at a discussion with media affiliated with the Bangkok-based Asia News Network.

The ASEAN countries will officially launch the AEC at the end of 2015, key agreements and regulations for which are currently being implemented.

Full story: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/19/thailand-embarks-new-economic-drive.html

-- Jakarta Post 2015-11-19

Yet another and another and another economic drive. Will they never end? Is the government consuming vast quantities of viagra?

Thailand is like a little child always crying and wanting to be center of attention.

Thailand will very quickly become the weak child in Asean. There is very little hope of it remaining a major player as other countries develop much more quickly while xenophobic and protectionist Thailand stalls.

Oh goody, new hub idea.

No this is a hub drive....New technology!

Thailand will very quickly become the weak child in Asean. There is very little hope of it remaining a major player as other countries develop much more quickly while xenophobic and protectionist Thailand stalls.

Philippines used to be referred to as the "sick man of Asia". Not now, the baton has been passed to Thailand. it has been a decade of lost economic opportunities just because of the Ammart refusal to relinquish their power grip.

"setting out mega projects as a springboard to get out of the middle income trap"

Those really don't hit the nail on the head. Just great source for tea money hidden in the "deals". Someone needs to give those guys copy of "Small is Beautiful"

cobbler's.

This year Thailand will have 3% growth in 2015 and expect 3-3.5% in 2016.

Compared this to Asean-5 as a whole, which is expected to expand by 4.6% and 4.9% in 2015 and 2016. Remove Thailand and the ASEAN-4 growth rates are predicted even higher. ASEAN-5 will be a major economic force in the region but no thanks to Thailand.