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AFG looks at building a Benz
Dr Iain Corness
The Automotive Focus Group (AFG) accepted the invitation extended by
Michael Welser, MD of PowerTech2004, to see the Mercedes-Benz engine
assembly plant at his factory in the TFD Industrial Estate, Bangpakong,
Chachoengsao.
The opportunity to see the insides of a Mercedes-Benz engine was obviously a
draw card for this AFG meeting, as it was one of the best attended functions
all year. The fact that Michael Welser also offered German beer and a German
sausage sizzle might also go some way towards explaining the turnout.
The AFG numbers were also swelled by two politicians from South Australia,
on a fact finding mission covering the auto industry in Thailand, which is
considerably larger than the one in Australia.
The plant tour took the members through the various stages in assembling the
engines. These were all four cylinder models, the V8 twin turbo models
continue to come in as CBU.
The models assembled here are actually hot run in Germany, then completely
knocked down and shipped to Bangkok. PowerTech2004 then re-assemble the
engines and again it is hot run on the Bangkok factory engine dynamometer.
Randy Simmons (CHS Asia) on behalf of the AFG expressed the gratitude of the
group, and apologized that president Uli Kaiser was currently in Germany,
and could not attend.
A staunch supporter of AFG is Leigh Wilmott of Austrade who was looking
after the Hon Gerry Kandelaars from South Australia, who was very interested
in Stuart Saunders EsDesign business card sized dental floss. Other
engineering members who attended included Ron Grigaras of Faurecia, Ramesh
Ramanathan Visteon and Matt Cox from Triumph Motorcycles. Siyaphas
Chantachairoj from Hemaraj Land and Development added some AFG beauty to the
PowerTech2004 glamorous guides.
It had been a very interesting plant tour, and it was certainly news to many
of the members that Mercedes-Benz engines were assembled in Thailand. The
only disappointment of the evening was that there were no free samples of
engines to take home!
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Thailand boosts infrastructure
investment in Mekong region
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday that
Thailand is investing in mega-projects to develop infrastructure and improve
water management to make itself ready to become a connecting nation and a
hub of food distribution among countries in the Mekong sub-region.
The Thai premier spoke at a keynote speech at the Thailand investment
conference on “Opportunities and Challenges of Thailand in the Evolution and
Development of Greater Mekong Region” in the Thai capital last week.
Ms Yingluck said the GMS countries have continued their economic development
over the past two decades. At their last meeting, held in Myanmar, the
premier said member countries agreed to cooperate to strengthen regional
economic growth in the next four years.
The GMS comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China’s
Yunnan province.
The Thai premier said the GMS is considered a crucial sub-region for ASEAN
development and connectivity, especially as Myanmar is now open to the world
community, so the GMS attracts more investors to the region.
The GMS countries agreed to boost their connections in transportation, trade
and investment, paving the way for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in
2015, she said.
Thailand, as the centre of this region, Ms Yingluck said, has played an
important role to link transportation and investment. It has invested US$90
billion in megaprojects in basic infrastructure, as well as short and long
term water management projects to enable Thailand become the food
distribution centre to other ASEAN countries.
Ms Yingluck said other transport projects being invested include high speed
railways linking Thailand and Laos, Thailand and China, as well as an
agreement with Myanmar to develop the Dawei deepwater seaport to boost
investment between the two neighboring countries.
Regarding the investment sector, Ms Yingluck said, Thailand’s Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) is ready to promote development of GMS capital
markets to enhance mutual economic growth and increase the value of its
capital investment.
She said the key for success is to jointly invest in basic infrastructure
funding which will help reduce public debt and other obstacles.
Ms Yingluck expressed confidence that the GMS will have a strong and
sustainable growth in the future. (MCOT)
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Rubber cartel
to include Vietnam
 Vietnam
has agreed to join a tripartite rubber committee in an attempt to coherently
stabilize rubber prices in the global market, Deputy Agriculture Minister
Nattawut Saikua said last Friday.
He said he met with Vietnam’s agriculture minister and industry and trade
minister, both of whom agreed in principle with the rubber cartel.
The original tripartite rubber committee is comprised of Thailand, Malaysia
and Indonesia. Thailand will host a meeting with member countries in
December.
“It is a good sign if Vietnam joins the tripartite body. The total rubber
production of the four countries represents 80 percent of the global
supply,” he said, adding that the cartel will strengthen member countries in
setting rubber prices.
He said prices of rubber in Thailand have steadily increased. (MCOT)
Thai investors urged to
invest in emerging markets
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI) would like to
encourage Thai businesspeople to invest in Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia
during the next three to five years, while also looking to the emerging
markets of Africa as interesting destinations, according to BoI Deputy
Secretary General Vasana Mututanont.
Vasana said Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia have bright prospects for
investment.
Thai agro-industry conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) has invested in
Myanmar, she said, adding that Thailand is the second biggest investor in
Myanmar after China.
Myanmar has become a prime investment target of Thai businesspeople. During
the five years from 2007 to 2012, Thai companies have invested in Myanmar to
a combined value of US$5.97 billion. Most Thai-invested industries are
mining, petroleum exploration, fisheries, seafood and wholesale.
She said that Myanmar is seeking foreign investment in agriculture-related
business, food processing and construction.
Vasana said the objectives of overseas investment far beyond the immediate
neighboring countries is to find new sources of resources or to avoid
non-tariff trade barrier and cut labor costs.
Thai investors have also expanded their investment in India, Australia,
South Africa and the Middle East, she said.
Apart from direct investment, Thai companies have also invested in the form
of business takeovers in foreign countries which could facilitate the export
of products to international markets. (MCOT)
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