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Ambitious move to slash number of poor farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives recently
announced ambitious plans to reduce the number of farmers living in poverty
while boosting Thailand’s agricultural revenue.
Speaking after a ministerial strategy meeting, Suthiporn
Chirapundu, secretary-general of the Office of Agricultural Economics, said
that the ministry hopes to reduce the number of poor farmers currently on
the Ministry of Interior’s poverty registry by 15 percent.
Over 1.29 million farmers nationwide are currently
registered as living in poverty, but the government has pledged to stamp out
poverty across the country if it wins another term in office.
Suthiporn said that the ministry also hoped to raise the
agricultural sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 4 percent to 820
billion baht over the coming year. He said the GDP rise will be driven by
the production of cassava, rice and fruit. (TNA)
SME component producers to meet Japanese business leaders
The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) and the
Japanese City of Yokohama’s business organization are joining hands to
bring business leaders from six Japanese companies together with small-scale
Thai components manufacturers, the head of the BOI’s industry connection
program announced recently.
Wisan Tanthawichien said that the meeting will be held in
Bangkok on November 19, and will help create an industry network and boost
trade opportunities for Thailand’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Known internationally for its role in promoting business
links, the City of Yokohama has business offices in Malaysia, the US,
Germany and China. It is hoped that the November meeting will enable
Japanese businesses to find Thai partners for components manufacturing,
while also leading to the transfer of Japanese technology to Thai SMEs. (TNA)
Industrial sector slows pace in 2nd half of this year
Industry Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal recently
conceded that Thailand’s industrial sector would not expand significantly
in the second half of this year due to impacts from rising oil prices and
the outbreak of avian flu.
Speaking with entrepreneurs in industrial estate areas,
the industry minister said the oil price surge and the bird flu pandemic had
slowed the country’s economic growth in the second half of this year as
compared with that of the first two quarters. It is projected that the Thai
economy will expand 5.5-6.5% for the whole of this year.
Private investment grew 17.8% in the first quarter and
dropped to 16.2% in the second quarter as a result of a slowdown in the
expansion of construction and investment in machinery and equipment.
The industrial sector expanded 10.3% in the first quarter
and declined to 7.5% due to the avian influenza epidemic and the global oil
price increase. It is expected that the sector will grow 9.3% for the whole
year, which is considered a satisfactory level. Industries that still grew
in production and exports include automobiles, electrical appliances and
electronics. The number of workers in the industrial sector total 5.65
million, or 16.11% of the workforce.
Pongsak said the trade balance was projected to
experience a deficit next year, but it would be offset by an expected
surplus in services and tourism. He forecast that applications for
investment promotions will continue to increase over the next four years, as
the investment value is expected to rise to around 600 billion baht next
year and reach 700-800 billion baht in 2008. (TNA)
ICT Ministry calls for Internet cafe safeguards
The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) is to propose a new phase of action against Internet cafes and online
gaming parlors, which will set limits on the number of hours each day that
children can use their services.
The ICT Ministry, which recently took over supervision of
Internet cafes from the Interior Ministry, intends to use its new powers to
enforce strict controls on Internet cafes and gaming parlors. ICT Minister
Suraphong Suebwonglee hopes to be able to submit his proposals to the
cabinet over the next few weeks, with the aim of issuing new cabinet
resolutions which will be enforceable in Internet cafes nationwide.
Measures will include clear rules on the issuance of
licenses for Internet cafes, the strict enforcement of opening times, and a
ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages. The ICT will also introduce a rating
system for online games, and will set daily limits on the maximum number of
hours that children should spend on gaming. Online game servers will be
threatened with immediate closure if they breach ministry regulations.
“It is time that we took strict action,” Dr.
Suraphong said, noting that the problem of online gaming had already been
brought up by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. However, he confirmed that
the government would not issue legislation on online gaming for adults, with
the new regulations only applicable to children under the age of 18. He also
dismissed concerns that online games were overly violent, saying that the
real problem lay in the possibility of addiction, and young people who spent
too much money while playing. In the long term, the ICT Ministry hopes to be
able to levy excise tax on online games. (TNA)
Bush’s return won’t help ease oil prices
The assumption that US President George W. Bush’s
re-election for a second term will see global oil prices decline is not
necessarily true according to the Kasikorn Research Center (KRC).
The leading think tank said the reaction by the oil
trading, money and capital markets to the Bush victory is temporary. The
markets will later opt to give a priority to economic fundamentals of the
US, as investors are waiting for the release of key economic figures,
particularly employment in the non-farming sector.
KRC viewed the fuel price rise in the US, which is
unlikely to ease under the Bush administration, might put pressure on
inflation rates in Thailand later. As well, it would make it difficult for
the Thai government to implement its monetary policy effectively in the
future since it needs to maintain economic stability amidst increasing
inflationary pressure.
KRC said the Thai economy was likely to expand at a
slower pace in the midst of upward interest rate direction, and pointed out
that liquidity in the banking system still remains excessive. (TNA)
GDP to grow at slower pace next year
Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) is set to
expand at a slower pace next year, dampened by a possible global economic
slowdown, according to Kasikorn Bank Public Company Limited (KBANK).
KBANK’s president, Prasarn Trairattanavorakul,
projected that the country’s export would grow slowly at around 8-9% next
year, compared with a possible average of 20% this year. Local consumption
is also expected to experience a slowdown next year since consumer
confidence is likely to decline, he said. At the same time, private
investment is expected to drop when compared with that of this year, he
noted.
“We need to closely monitor production capacity in the
private sector because the capacity in August dropped from that of the
previous month. Should the capacity continue to decline, it is likely that
private investment will drop next year,” he said.
Prasarn disclosed that KBANK is in the process of forming
a business plan focused on expanding services to small customers next year.
He said the bank now needs to focus more on expanding services to retail
clients to earn more fee-based revenue. He said the bank will attempt to
provide integrated banking services as a universal bank in accordance with
the Bank of Thailand (BOT)-issued financial master plan. (TNA)
Japanese to inspect Thai chicken processing plants
Japan has confirmed that it will send inspectors to view
Thai chicken and pork processing plants in November, while ruling out any
link between the inspections and bilateral free trade negotiations,
according to the permanent secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives,
Banphot Hongthong.
Speaking after meeting Kenichi Ito, the director-general
of the International Affairs Division of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries, Banphot said that Mr. Ito had denied reports that
free trade negotiations were in any way dependent on the factory
inspections.
Japanese experts will now come to view 20 chicken and
pork processing plants in Thailand in mid-November. The visit comes in the
wake of talks between the two countries back in August, when Japan said that
while it could not send inspectors to Thailand immediately, it would place
Thailand at the top of its list.
Japan has also expressed willingness to accede to a Thai
request for further cooperation in food safety, and to forge links between
agricultural cooperatives in the two countries. (TNA)
Call for more transparent global trade rules
The National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food
Standards (ACFS) is calling on the international community to issue
transparent trade regulations, as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s
plans to secure Thailand’s place as a world leader in the agricultural
commodity and food trade.
ACFS director Aphichat Phongsrihadulchai said that the
bureau made its plea during the recent global food safety conference (GF2)
hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in
association with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and
the World Health Organization.
The AFCS is calling for a uniform set of regulations
which will emphasize transparency and scientific accountability without any
hidden agendas. These standards should be applicable to both production for
export and production for domestic consumption.
While acknowledging that developing countries will take
time to come in line with the new regulations, the ACFS hopes that
international organizations will assist in promoting the competitiveness of
these countries.
“In this new global order, Thailand hopes to secure a
key position in agricultural exports. The Ministry of Agriculture’s most
important strategy is to ensure that Thai agricultural and food products
become world market leaders. Today Thailand earns at least 600 billion baht
per year from agricultural and food exports. Thailand hopes to play an
integral part in international-level negotiations on agricultural trade,”
Aphichat said, adding, that Thailand has already been successful in helping
bring down trade barriers. (TNA)
Anti-cigarette Foundation calls for increase in tax
The Action on Smoking and Health Foundation is calling on
the government to raise the tax on cigarette as sales of cigarette have
increased more than 10% annually, while the number of smokers is also
rising.
The foundation’s secretary-general Dr. Prakit
Vatheesathokij made the call after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said
that a cigarette plant would be moved from Bangkok to the country’s
northern province of Chiang Mai, and that the new machinery, worth about 17
billion baht, would be purchased in order to improve cigarette quality to
match international standards.
Dr. Prakit said, “What the government should seriously
do is to hike cigarette tax because the tax has remained unchanged nearly 10
years now, while the number of smokers had risen sharply in the past three
years,” he suggested. (TNA)
AustCham all at sea in November?
The regular Seaboard Sundowners meeting of the Australian
Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) had something just a little different
from the usual networking get-togethers over a few beers, some good
Australian wine, some card exchanges and lots of the usual Aussie banter.
Seaboard
Sundowner sponsors and AustCham executives take to the podium, thanking
everyone for their attendance.
With the venue being the little known (to the non-yachties)
Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Na Jomtien, the members and guests who arrived
early enough (before sundown) were treated to a cruise with Gulf Charters
around the Na Jomtien/Pattaya Bay region. Afterwards, the Pattaya
Mail’s resident ‘yachtie’, Peter Cummins, was seen clutching a
yachting magazine and muttering strange nautical Tasmanian epithets.
Back on dry land, the evening was hosted by the
multi-award winning Kirwan Industrial Services, whose motto should now be
“We clean up the world” as supremo Steele Lambrinos was unable to
attend, being in Hong Kong looking to clean up there, after ‘cleaning
up’ in Macau. However, his function in welcoming all the networkers was
carried out admirably by his eldest son, complete with entourage of wife and
baby son, while Steele’s wife Sandra Lambrinos smiled benevolently over
the entire event.
AustCham
members and guests who arrived early enough were treated to a sunset cruise
around Pattaya bay on the Seraph, courtesy of Gulf Charters.
Since the function of these events is to introduce
business people who can form symbiotic relationships, it was pleasing to see
Glenn Cooper (an Aussie boat builder who is setting up here) getting in
touch with new member Steve Walmsley (Nitro company, a carbon fiber
production factory), providing both with supplier and outlet.
Other regulars were evident, with Rod (the Survivor)
Skinner feeling at home in the Ocean Marina environment, since he is these
days running at full production making fittings for the new marina in Phuket.
Malcolm Scorer had his little helper on the go as usual, collecting fistfuls
of business cards, exchanging them for bright smiles! Newcomers were the
motorcycle people from Tyga Performance, with ‘Poms’ Paul Pearmain and
Matt Patterson mingling and munching.
Austcham movers and shakers were represented by executive
director Rob Bridge, who is unfortunately giving up the post next year, and
David Wright, the big man with the big smile and a welcome for all.
The next Seaboard Sundowners will be after the New Year, but the Pattaya
Mail will be informing its readers in advance.
President of Emerson Electric Climate Technologies
delivers State of the Business address in Rayong plant
Karen Roy
On October 29, Emerson Electric (Thailand) received a
special visit from Bill Bosway, president of Emerson Climate Technologies,
Copeland - Asia Pacific. Bosway flew in from Hong Kong to deliver his State
of the Business address to the Thailand plant staff. (The SOTB address is an
annual presentation delivered by the president to all Asia facilities). It
was the first time for most employees to meet and shake hands with the
president.
 Bill
Bosway, president of Emerson Climate Technologies, Copeland - Asia Pacific,
flew in from Hong Kong to deliver his State of the Business address to the
Thailand plant staff.
At 8 a.m., over 800 people gathered on the production
floor to attend Bosway’s State of the Business presentation. Bruce Hoppe,
MD for Emerson Electric (Thailand), opened the meeting with some welcoming
remarks for Mr. Bosway. Then, Bosway took the stage.
Bosway began with a video featuring Tom Bettcher, CEO of
Emerson Climate Technologies – Global. Bettcher spoke of Emerson’s
performance for the fiscal year 2004. He also praised the Emerson-Thailand
plant for many 2004 achievements. They have worked 7 million hours without a
lost-time accident and received the “White Factory” certification from
the Thai government for being a drug-free workplace. They also manufactured
their 3 millionth Copeland Scroll compressor in 2004, and grew their
business over 40% supplying high quality products to US, Asia and Europe
customers.
The
Emerson Electric (Thailand) management team with Bill Bosway, president of
Emerson Climate Technologies, Copeland - Asia Pacific (back row, center).
Bettcher called on everyone’s support to face the 2005
opportunities, which include installing a new production line and launching
new Copeland Scroll air conditioning compressor models in Thailand.
 Via
a video presentation, Tom Bettcher, CEO of Emerson Climate Technologies –
Global, praised the Emerson-Thailand plant for many 2004 achievements.
Bosway talked about the great sales performance and very
positive sales outlook for two of Emerson Climate Technologies divisions -
Copeland Corporation and Flow Controls. This was followed by an operations
update of all the Emerson Climate Technologies Asia facilities – their
Thailand plant, Suzhou plant, Shenyang plant, and the Suzhou R&D
Engineering Center.
Bruce
Hoppe, MD for Emerson Electric (Thailand), opened the meeting with some
welcoming remarks for Mr. Bosway.
The last part of his presentation focused on the
marketing initiatives being undertaken by Copeland Asia Pacific. Copeland
supports higher energy efficiency regulations in China and Thailand. They
are launching new advertising campaigns for Copeland Digital Scroll
compressors in Korea and China. Bosway concluded his presentation with a
reminder to all employees to continue upholding high ethical standards at
work.
After the presentation, Bosway took the opportunity to meet the line
workers. After doing his rounds at the line, he proceeded to the office
floor to meet the staff. Employees were delighted to have this opportunity
to meet and exchange pleasant words, and express their ideas with the
Copeland AP President. It is not everyday that they get to meet such an
important person in Emerson Electric.
Jetstar Airways eyes U-Tapao airport
Suchada Tupchai
Due to the congestion at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok,
Jetstar Airways is eyeing U-Tapao airport as an alternative landing venue.
The airline uses an Airbus 320 with 180 economy seats. Their main passengers
are flying out of Singapore.
Adeline Kim, Thailand manager of Jetstar Airways recently
met with Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Niti Kongkrut, TAT Central Region 3
director and Thanet Supornsaharungsi, president of the Pattaya Business and
Tourism Association to discuss the possibly of using U-Tapao airport as an
alternative landing base.
The airline wants to introduce daily arrivals in January
2005. This would prove a boon to Pattaya since U-Tapao is presently the
closest airport to the city.
The meeting’s discussions included sorting out issues
with Bangkok Airways, which is currently the main airline at U-Tapao. If all
goes well, Jetstar wants to promote its service with the cooperation of
Pattaya City and TAT.
U-Tapao airport has long been a subject of controversy
due to its languishing potential as a source of tourism arrivals.
Jetstar’s offer could help change that.
The Ultimate Auction
A Premier Real Estate Event
On December 19, a new page in marketing real estate will
be exposed. For the very first time the oldest bartering system known to the
civilized world will be used to sell 20 new luxury private villas in the
extremely desirable Thai seaside location of Pattaya-Jomtien, presently
reputed to be the hottest real estate market in all of Thailand.
 Gordon
Gillen, managing director of One Stop Real Estate
A brand new project, Jomtien Park Villas, will be fully
sold in one day. “It should only take around two hours,” says Mel Giller,
chairman of MGI Global Auctions, the international auction company under
whose gavel the properties will be sold to the highest bidder. “The
treasures of the world are always sold at auction,” reminds Giller, who
says prime real estate is treated by his auction company as works of art.
Why auction in this blistering market? According to
Gordon Gillen, managing director of One Stop Real Estate, the entrepreneur
who has decided to pioneer this type of sale in his star development, “I
have been familiar with auctions for many years and I know that the most
exclusive commodities, the treasures of the world, are always sold at
auction where the market is permitted to determine their true value. To me
it was obvious from the beginning that Jomtien Park Villas could not be
offered in any other way to the sophisticated public who will want to be
part of the most exclusive and luxurious residential community on the
Eastern Seaboard.”
 Mel
Giller, chairman of MGI Global Auctions
Mel Giller adds, “At this auction, buyers will also be
able to take the supreme advantage of bidding without a minimum starting bid
and where the majority of these luxury homes will be sold individually to
the highest bidder, regardless of price”. This type of auction is referred
to as an absolute auction and was first used by Giller in 1978, to the shock
of many developers who later embraced the revolutionary idea. The absolute
style of auction was brought to Thailand by MGI Global Auctions in 1999 and
it holds the most appeal to auction buyers.
Why is this “The Ultimate Auction”? Never before in
Asia has the general public had the opportunity to bid at an auction where
they can purchase brand new luxury villas in a project of this quality.
Jomtien Park Villas features state of the art security, with 24 hours video
surveillance, electronic access control restricted to owners and their
guests, panic buttons in all master bedrooms and living rooms connected to
the guardhouse, and swimming pool alarms to prevent accidents.
A brand
new project, Jomtien Park Villas, will go under the hammer on December 19.
There are eight different types of houses, from 121 to
397 sq. m., 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms. Four show villas are being completed and
all interested potential bidders will be able to inspect them starting on
November 19. All the villas have private swimming pools and garages.
Selected units also have a 28 to 63 sq. m. basement
entertainment/multi-purpose room, which receives light from glass panels
into the swimming pools, an exclusive feature in Pattaya of Jomtien Park
Villas.
On December19 the auction will start at 2 p.m. at the
Siam Ballroom of the Royal Cliff Hotel. Interested bidders should register
prior to the auction, during the auction inspection period that will run
from November 19 to December 18. The auction information office will be open
between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week, including holidays at the
site, located on Thepprasit Road, Soi 17, tel. 038 303871-5, email auction @realesthai.com
Please note that phones and email will be active starting
November 19.
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