Thailand can rise as regional business hub in post-Brexit era
KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

BANGKOK -- ASEAN will become more valued as an investment target, considering Brexit's expected impact on the European Union, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak told a business forum here on Thursday.

Somkid stressed the importance of pursuing trade deals and pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to take advantage of the "chance for Asia" following the turmoil in Europe. For Thailand's part, he pledged to spearhead development of the ASEAN subregion of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) to achieve regional growth.

Speaking at an event titled "Asia's new era of opportunity and cooperation -- Thailand as new Asian business hub," jointly held by Nikkei and The Board of Investment of Thailand, Somkid argued Thailand can be a regional business center by leveraging its geographic position and rich human resources.

Full story: http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Economy/Thailand-can-rise-as-regional-business-hub-in-post-Brexit-era

-- NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW 2016-07-08

Yes and it could also become a real democracy in the post military era.

In the words of the of immortal sage Dale Kerrigan, from the movie the castle:

Tell'em they're dreaming!

Brexit is beginning to be mentioned here as much as on the domestic news in Britain !

However, as other posters have pointed out, how many Thais have heard of it let alone have the slightest idea what it is ?

It is becoming a buzz word to be thrown around by those and such as those to justify, excuse etc as they see fit.

Edited July 7, 201610 yr by NongKhaiKid

The government has created a new HUB. This time an ASEAN business HUB, as distinct from an ASEAN crime and corruption HUB, although there are possibilities the two could blend on occasions.

Can anyone explain how Thailand can benefit by spearheading development of the ASEAN subregion of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam?

In fact a Sony executive comments that Thailand is now behind Vietnam in smartphone production because S. Korea's electronic makers have invested heavily in Vietnam.

Hard to imagine how encouraging more foreign investment in these countries is going to help Thailand but the cream of the military government seems confident it will..

Thailand will not move forward until they can man up an admit they have got many things to fix.

So Bangkok will be the next London.....

Thailand will not move forward until they can man up an admit they have got many things to fix.

So that will be never then?

Thailand can't do much without the ok and green light from big boss China, and anyone who say

or think differently is deluding themselves.....

And beside, Thailand now is heavily relying on foreign work force from neighbouring counties

to keep their labor intensive industries going, who will you be a regional power hub if you

don't have the workers for that?.....

No it cannot.

regards Worgeordie

I see world domination

Brexit is beginning to be mentioned here as much as on the domestic news in Britain !

However, as other posters have pointed out, how many Thais have heard of it let alone have the slightest idea what it is ?

It is becoming a buzz word to be thrown around by those and such as those to justify, excuse etc as they see fit.

Thailand can not / will not accept the blame for lower trading figures so they look for something else to blame and as the Thai's have no idea what BREXIT is that is a good one to chose to apportion blame.

The real reason is more likely the inability of the Thai business men and women to deal with competition from other countries. One gets the idea that Thailand believes everyone is dependent on them. It will hurt once they wake up and realise the world is not at the mercy of any single country in the world. The TPP will not be the godsend they think it will be. Many economists around the world have advised to stay clear of it but Thailand is on course to join it. I hope the economists are wrong but it is highly unlikely that they are.

Edited July 8, 201610 yr by gandalf12

Brexit is far from a reality , yet if ever and I cant help thinking the same goes for ASEAN and the start of something 6 months ago. But just what started? I can't see anything other than posters and talk. I don't see trade. I don't see freedom of movement. I don't see freedom of labour. Nothing seems to have changed. What am I missing?

Brexit, what is this? Is EU one of our neighbouring country?

They will have to 'brace' themselves first

Thailand's rich human resources...

Let's see: there are Thailand's youths up all night fighting or racing with nothing to do but sleep in the day, there are 50,000+ followers of Dhammakayo who drop what they are doing any time the abbot has a hiccup, and there is an ever increasing sea of monks who can't be bothered.

shall we talk about work ethics next?

Thailand ''Spearheading Asean'' ? Pull the other leg Mush..it's got bells on it !

Thailand will not move forward until they can man up an admit they have got many things to fix.

So that will be never then?

My face. Bigger than your face.

How does the Thailand government expect to be treated respectfully with idiotic statements like this?

Trade within Europe doesn't just end all of a sudden because Brexit is on the cards. lol. If anything there will be less chance for Thailand to be any sort of hub when Asian nations rush to do bilateral deals with a freed up UK.

One can well imagine a scenario in which the Singaporeans see a post Brexit opportunity but decide to hold off to seek advice from Bangkok because of Thailand's greater expertise in international business.

I think too much kratom leaves are getting into Bangkok!

Brexit is beginning to be mentioned here as much as on the domestic news in Britain !

However, as other posters have pointed out, how many Thais have heard of it let alone have the slightest idea what it is ?

It is becoming a buzz word to be thrown around by those and such as those to justify, excuse etc as they see fit.

Brexit the gift that will just keep giving, to Thailand's BS artists at least.

The reality is Thailand is being left in the dust by almost every ASEAN economy. I see this as a desperate attempt to cling onto the coat-tails of others.

leveraging its geographic position and rich human resources

Aren't most of those resources Burmese/Myanmarians?

Brexit is beginning to be mentioned here as much as on the domestic news in Britain !

However, as other posters have pointed out, how many Thais have heard of it let alone have the slightest idea what it is ?

It is becoming a buzz word to be thrown around by those and such as those to justify, excuse etc as they see fit.

Cynical though this view may be it seems to me Thailand jump on everything they possibly can to spin a good yarn.

The reality in this case is no one gives a flying toot what Thailand thinks about brexit and there are no real opportunities for Thailand to "spearhead" the Asean into economic success. I would argue that Thailand has as many political problems as Britian right now and has had these problems for years. There is however a big difference, Britain is in a state of panic, and it will do something quickly to try and stabilise itself and put itself on a clear path (whatever that may be) to stop the damage becoming more permanent. Thailand however, there is no end in sight the current situation, there is no light at the end of the tunnel and no sign of democracy returning to Thailand. Indeed it seems democracy is being slowly eroded and freedom of speech is being stifled at every turn.

I would place a healthy bet that Britain will announce Brexit, elect a PM, get itself organised, submit article 50 and negotiate the basic freedom of movements with the EU before Thailand even has a date for a real democratic election.

So, under these conditions how on earth can Thailand make an official statement that they are going to lead Asia into Nirvana.

Utterly ridiculous thing to say, one of many countless ridiculous things this country spouts,, all just hot air and ignored by all.

Frightening when the deputy PM wants to open the door to US exploitation of Thailand's untapped resources and essential services and utilities by signing Thailand up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Fortunately, it will be a while before Thailand will meet the qualifications for entry - and by then, hopefully, we will have a democratically elected government with more savvy than the present incumbents.

It's like the 'Planet of The Apes' movie, the primates can talk and the humans are mute.