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Chris Bruton attracts full house for Milan Crosse networking dinner
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Kasikorn centre: Help farmers as ASEAN lifts tariffs January 1
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Chris Bruton attracts full house
for Milan Crosse networking dinner
Jim Howard
The final Milan Crosse Networking event for 2009 again attracted a
full house, although whether this was because it was Thanksgiving or the
fact that the featured speaker was to be Chris Bruton from Dataconsult
(Economist Intelligence Unit), the doyen of the commentators on the Thai
political and economic scene was a moot point.
 Andy
Harrison captivates Cameron Thorpe and Jerry Stewart.
The setting was the Mantra restaurant, which produced a veritable feast
complemented by fine Australian wines to the delight of Peter Stirling, the
managing director of Milan Crosse and the brains behind this regular
gathering.
It was a beautiful cool November evening as the group gathered in the
reception area of the restaurant for pre-dinner cocktails. The attendees,
most of whom are CEO’s and senior managers of foreign companies operating on
the Eastern Seaboard, had all gathered in anticipation of the presentation
to be made by Chris Bruton, which would hopefully give them all the answers
as to what to expect in the year ahead.
 Richard
Cunliffe, Paul Wilkinson and Joe Barker-Bennet, the 3 musketeers!
There was of course a lot of animated discussion centering around the
current economic crisis and its effects on business in Thailand in general
and on the Eastern Seaboard in particular.
Amongst those attending were Frank Holzer from GM Thailand, Maurice Bromley
of Go Industries and chairman of the South African Chamber of Commerce,
Allan Robson of Global Fleet sales, Cameron Thorpe, the incoming CEO at Laem
Chabang International Terminals and a lone representative from the academic
community in the shape of Andy Harrison, the headmaster at St. Andrews
International School.
Freddy Carlsson of Scania, who has recently ridden his motorcycle solo from
Stockholm to Bangkok was also recalling some of his adventures on the ride.
There was even a visitor from the Gulf, Jeff Powers of IFQM in Dubai was
hoping that Chris could also enlighten him on the current goings on in the
Emirates.
The highlight of the event was the presentation from Chris and once again in
his own inimitable style he was able to give a comprehensive overview of the
current political and economic situations with a very humorous edge. The
style of Chris’ presentation made the rather complex situation all the more
understandable. This was helped by his obvious familiarity with the main
players and his long experience of the political scene in Thailand.
The presentation was really well received and Chris’s optimism provoked
great interest amongst the enthralled audience. An energetic question and
answer session followed during which many of the potential scenarios for the
future were outlined. For sure there are interesting times ahead and
hopefully the gentlemen that were fortunate enough be made privy to Chris’s
forecasts will be prepared for anything that can happen.
The evening was hosted by Jim Howard on behalf of Milan Crosse accompanied
by Peter Stirling, the managing director of Milan Crosse Creative Co., Ltd.
Jim Howard and Peter Stirling surround David
Cumming GM of Amari Orchid and Chris Bruton the featured speaker.
Kasikorn centre: Help farmers as ASEAN lifts tariffs January 1
Concerned agencies should provide assistance to Thai farmers
and agricultural workers so that their produce could retain competitiveness in
the world market after Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member
states begin reducing import tariffs to zero from January 1, according to a
report issued by Kasikorn Research Centre.
The report said that Thai sugarcane and sugar industries will reach a crucial
turning point after ASEAN members start reducing import tariffs to zero from
January 1.
Most ASEAN members must still rely on imports of sugar while Thailand can export
more than 70 percent of total production, the report said. Over 37 percent of
Thailand’s total crop is now being shipped to other ASEAN countries.
In order to enable the ability of the Thai sugarcane growing and sugar
processing industries to remain competitive, concerned agencies including the
government, sugar refineries and growers should be well prepared and plan
measures to respond to the impact which might affect the industries after the
agreement takes effect, it said.
Thailand along with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei,
Vietnam, Lao, Myanmar and Cambodia are ASEAN members.
The report said the upcoming reduction of import tariffs will also affect coffee
growers due to production costs which are higher than those in the rest of
ASEAN, but Thai coffee growers still enjoy a better quality of coffee beans when
compared to neighboring countries and growers should maintain their quality
standards.
Under the agreement, tariffs for Thai instant coffee will also be lowered to
zero but tariffs for coffee beans will be reduced to 5 percent because the
product is considered as a sensitive product.
Better know-how along with improved coffee products should be given to Thai
coffee growers so that Thai coffee can compete in the market, the report added.
(TNA)
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