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Thailand to host
the E5 energy expo in Bangkok
The E5 2007 exhibition and conference expo, a first time event for Bangkok,
will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok from
8 - 10 March.
The latest international technology is expected from up to 40 countries
including national pavilions and exhibits from Germany, Japan, Italy,
Singapore, Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, China,
Croatia and the United States.
Trade visitors to the event are expected from over 30 countries, mainly from
Southeast Asia but also including Europe, the Middle East, the US, South
Asia and the Far East.
Bangkok Exhibition Services (BES) Ltd., with the support of the TCEB
(Thailand’s Convention & Exhibition Bureau), is organising this inaugural
event that brings together the latest technology and services in the field
of energy efficiency and management, electrical engineering, lighting and
building technology, plant maintenance equipment and electronic security
systems
Anyone requiring further information on the event should contact Mimi at BES
on +66 (0) 2617 1475 or visit www.e5thailand.com
Finance minister must quickly restore investor confidence
Whoever is named new Thai finance minister by Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont must move quickly to restore the confidence of investors, both
local and international, a well known lecturer at Thammasat University said
Monday.
Political science lecturer Somchai Pakapasvivat said major tasks facing the
new finance minister, occupying the post left vacant by Pridiyathorn
Devakula following his sudden resignation on March 1, centre on restoring
the confidence of investors following the Bank of Thailand imposition of a
30 per cent foreign capital reserve requirement last December.
Other significant issues, according to Dr. Somchai, are the government’s
moves on amending the Retail Business and Foreign Business acts which must
be explained to investors because foreign investment is seen as vitally
important to the country.
Commenting on economic stabilisation, Dr. Somchai said that although the
problem of the current account deficit has been eased, concerned officials
must try to prevent Thailand’s balance of trade from suffering a deficit and
inflation from rising further as global oil prices have started to rise
again.
The government must also accelerate its spending as only about 20 per cent
of the total government allocated budget has been spent so far this fiscal
year, started October 1, 2006. Increased government spending would stimulate
the local economy and help boost the competitiveness of Thai exporters.
Touching on press reports that Thailand Development and Research Institute
president Chalongphob Sussang-karn could become the new finance minister, he
said Dr. Chalongphob is a knowledgeable economist. But under Thailand’s
currently sluggish economy, Dr. Chalongphob would need to form a team which
could coordinate well with concerned economic ministers to help tackle major
economic issues, he said. (TNA)
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