NDC to host seminar on driving Thailand to ASEAN Community

Surapan Laotharanarit

BANGKOK, 16 June 2016 (NNT) – The National Defense College is scheduled to hold an academic seminar on June 20, focusing on moving Thailand forward after the advent of the ASEAN Community.

Lt Gen Chaianan Jantakananuruk, Director of the National Defense College of the National Defense Studies Center, opened a press conference to announce the holding of its 7th academic seminar with five other institutes under the theme “How to Drive Thailand to the ASEAN Community”. The other participating agencies consist of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute, the Commerce Academy of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Capital Market Academy, the Election Commission and the Judicial Training Institute of the Courts of Justice.

Lt Gen Chaianan pointed out that this seminar is aimed at strengthening academic cooperation among the agencies involved and paving the way for the application of their research in society for the purpose of national development. Moreover, it will particularly serve as a place for exchanging opinions on propelling the country forward as well as promoting regional cooperation in various dimensions.

The seminar is scheduled for Monday, June 20 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm at the National Defense College on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok.

-- NNT 2016-06-19

Very strange seminar subject title.... all sorts of connotations spring to mind..

How big is the car park?

They desperately need to do something but it is questionable whether a huge gabfest will do much to fix the problem. Here is a headline and some comments which appeared in a newspaper back in January this year. The story seem to sum up the situation.

Foreign investment in Thailand plunges 78%. (between January and November 2015)

"Thailand faces stiff competition from increasingly attractive neighbours Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar".

"...Japan investment dropped by 81%".

"The BoI (Board of Investment) says the large fall in investment was due to new investment incentive policy, which became effective in 2015".

"The new policy favours projects that employ high-technology, encourage innovation, or strengthen Thailand's role as a regional and International trading hub". (That word "hub" again)

"BOI investment applications down more than 50% from 2014". (Can anyone remember what happened in 2014?)

That just about sums up the economic woes of Thailand. One can only hope that something can be done for the sake of the Country to reverse this depressing trend and start "propelling the Country forward" as the Director of the National Defense College so optimistically puts it.

Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to change the investment policy. It seems that was the trigger for the decline in investment in 2015.

They desperately need to do something but it is questionable whether a huge gabfest will do much to fix the problem. Here is a headline and some comments which appeared in a newspaper back in January this year. The story seem to sum up the situation.

Foreign investment in Thailand plunges 78%. (between January and November 2015)

"Thailand faces stiff competition from increasingly attractive neighbours Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar".

"...Japan investment dropped by 81%".

"The BoI (Board of Investment) says the large fall in investment was due to new investment incentive policy, which became effective in 2015".

"The new policy favours projects that employ high-technology, encourage innovation, or strengthen Thailand's role as a regional and International trading hub". (That word "hub" again)

"BOI investment applications down more than 50% from 2014". (Can anyone remember what happened in 2014?)

That just about sums up the economic woes of Thailand. One can only hope that something can be done for the sake of the Country to reverse this depressing trend and start "propelling the Country forward" as the Director of the National Defense College so optimistically puts it.

Perhaps the simplest thing to do is to change the investment policy. It seems that was the trigger for the decline in investment in 2015.

They really are great at making up nice sounding names.

DRIVING THAILAND TOWARDS ASEAN? they mean driving a wedge in between... Thailand is just not there and the new policy in BOI is a joke, as internet is garbage for overseas use, English skills are better in Mainland China and none her eat all except when they want to scam you.

Companies have already placed their money elsewhere.

THE WORLD pot of gold is only so big and not eternal.

Thailand will not bounce back so good this time. the money has gone. Speculators stay that's all