Economy will remain uncertain despite growth next year

The Thai economy will remain uncertain next year although it is set to grow 3 percent as many forecast, according to a top banker.
Kosit Panpiemras, chairman of the board of executive directors of Bangkok Bank, said the country’s economy is expected to resume growth in the fourth quarter of this year, but the overall economy this year would shrink around 3 percent.
Whether the economy would sustain its growth next year depends on the effectiveness of the state economic stimulus measures and the government’s economic policy.
He said the Thai economy remains vulnerable in the current weak global economic recovery and the suspension of investment projects in the Maptaphut Industrial Estate.
The government must deal more quickly with the problems at Maptaphut so that investment in the estate could take place promptly. The problems must be jointly addressed in a more systematic manner.
Next year, he said, the government would experience some constraints in adopting the monetary policy to stimulate the economy since the Bank of Thailand (BoT) had cut the policy interest rate to a low level already.
Now, many countries had begun to raise interest rates. It is expected Thailand cannot avoid following suit.
Regarding the government’s decision to extend five measures to help ease people’s living costs for three months, Kosit said it is a rational and acceptable move.
In the past year, he said, the government had successfully resolved the economic meltdown despite many obstacles. (TNA)

ABC Business Group opens Jomtien office

Apichart Puetpan (2nd left) listens to a toast
from Helmut Buchberger and his ABC team.

Elfi Seitz
The ABC group of companies continues to expand across Pattaya, opening a new office building on Thappraya Road in Jomtien Beach.
ABC Managing Director Helmut Buchberger hosted a Dec. 9 grand opening with Apichart Puetpan, Pattaya’s deputy permanent secretary, attending as the guest of honor. In his speech he explained how important it is for Pattaya that already established businesses expand and thus create more wealth for Pattaya.
He commented on the ABC Group’s continued expansion over the last few years and wished Buchberger and his team the very best of luck for their future in Jomtien.
In his speech Buchberger expressed his joy at having moved closer to his main customers.
“Business in North Pattaya was very good but most of our clients live in and around Jomtien so we moved towards them,” he said.
After cordially thanking all guests for coming and for their continued support, Buchberger and his guests went on a grand tour of the new building. This was followed by a relaxed party at a nearby restaurant.
 

AFG learns about e-marketing

Dr. Iain Corness
The very active Automotive Focus Group (AFG) December seminar was held in the new Holiday Inn, and was one of the most informative sessions the AFG has had this year. Presented by AFG member Uli Kaiser, he patiently brought the members (in some cases kicking and screaming) into the 21st century.
His discussion centered around the opportunities that existed for the AFG members by selective e-networking leading to even more selective e-marketing. He compared the advantages of using e-tools as opposed to ending up after a face-to-face networking evening with a host of business cards, only some of which might be relevant to the individual’s needs.
Uli demonstrated a program called ‘Xing’, which is a professional networking program, not to be confused with social networks such as Facebook or Twitter.
This demonstration was done in ‘real time’ and he used as an example, one of the members who has a forging business on the Eastern Seaboard (auto parts, not US$ 100!). Within a couple of clicks, Uli brought up a large number of contacts, all over the world, who needed items forged. A very powerful and cogent pitch for e-networking in the 21st century.
For one of the members, who claimed he had just graduated from semaphore to Morse code, Uli did suggest that for B. 36,000 he could enter today’s world of modern electronic/internet communication, which would be quicker and more ubiquitous than Aldis lamps!
This seminar was an excellent example of members within the AFG assisting others in the group with good business ideas.
The next AFG meeting will be in January, and contact can be made by email to maurice. [email protected].

Government to clarify Maptaphut situation for Japanese businesspeople

The Thai government is saying it will clarify all details regarding the environmental impasse at the country’s largest industrial estate, Maptaphut, to the largest group of investors, the Japanese business community, Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu assured the public on Friday.
The government is working urgently to resolve the problems following the Japanese ambassador to Thailand expressing his concern on the matter, Korbsak said.
The Cabinet met Tuesday to consider the status of 10 projects, which have already been operating and 29 projects under construction, and to hold talks with the Ministry of Industry, earlier assigned to look into the details of the projects.
Korbsak said the government will not appeal the verdict of the Supreme Administrative Court, which allowed 11 projects to go ahead while continuing the suspension of 65 projects.
However, the court will review the case if more details are submitted, so the government directed the Ministry of Industry to study the cases for the government’s consideration.
The government will also meet with entrepreneurs whose businesses have been affected to gather information to present to the prosecutors in a bid to help the investors.
They will benefit if they can prove that their projects are in line with Thailand’s environmental laws and don’t impact the environment negatively.
“The government needs cooperation from the private sector to reveal information of their investment projects. Meanwhile, they should stop complaining about losses and the effects on the economy,” Korbsak asserted. “It’s not worth it if an industrial project affecting the environment claims a life.”
In September, the Central Administrative Court issued an injunction ordering suspension of the 76 industrial projects at Maptaphut, due to environmental concerns.
The court injunction followed complaints from local residents and environmental groups that state agencies had failed to issue proper operating licenses for the industrial projects. (TNA)

Thailand will move ahead with plan to tackle climate change

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stressed Saturday that Thailand will move ahead with its own plan to tackle climate change despite the failure of the Copenhagen summit.
Abhisit was attending the 15th session of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) and the 5th Conference of Parties serving as the meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP5) at Copenhagen, Denmark.
The marathon talks at the Bella Center decided merely to note a new accord, a non-binding deal for combating global warming led by the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa.
The Thai premier said even though the meeting could not reach concrete measures, Thailand would follow its plan to fight climate change.
Thailand had detailed the measures in its 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan and its Energy Development Plan, he said.
He earlier told the High Level Segment of COP15 and CMP5 that Thailand has incorporated the issue of climate change into its development and planning process, notably in successive National Economic and Social Development Plans for the periods 2007-2011 and 2012-2016 respectively.
These plans aim to move the economy towards a new growth model - “a low carbon economy” - by restructuring the production sector towards low carbon, promoting green transportation and logistics, restructuring the agricultural sector to promote sustainable and organic agriculture, as well as changing the pattern of public consumption towards more environmentally-friendly products.
Moreover, he said, Thailand is implementing the “15-year National Alternative Energy Development Plan (2008-2022),” which aims to increase the share of alternative energy to 20 percent of final energy consumption in the country by the year 2022.
Accordingly, the green house gasses emission will be substantially reduced from alternative energy and from more efficient use of energy as a whole.
In addition, to increase the carbon sink, Thailand has set the ambitious target to increase its national forest cover from 30 percent in 2006 up to 40 percent by 2020.
At present, there are 228 protected areas and there are plans to establish more in the future. The constant effort on forest conservation and protection as well as reforestation programs through action and implementation plans to promote people’s participation is one of the key successes in the government’s efforts to reach its target.
The 193 nations stopped far from a full endorsement of the plan, which sets a target of limiting global warming to a maximum 2 degree Celsius rise over pre-industrial times and holds out the prospect of US$100 billion in annual aid from 2020 for developing nations.
The plan does not specify greenhouse gas cuts needed to achieve the 2 Celsius goal that is seen as a threshold for dangerous changes such as more floods, droughts, mudslides, sandstorms and rising seas.
Asked whether the deadlock resulted from each country not easing their conditions, Abhisit admitted that each nation had different limitations. Tackling climate change was a common responsibility but each country could depend on their own readiness and economic factors. (TNA)

24-hour postal center opens inside Diana Inn

Diana Group staff, Banglamung postal workers and guests pose
at the grand opening of the new postal service center.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
For those put off by long lines at Pattaya’s main post office or for those who just can’t get there in time, a new 24-hour postal center has opened inside the Diana Inn on Second Road.
Diana Group Managing Director Sopin Thappajug and Sukanya Sornsoemsombat, of the Banglamung Post Office cut the ribbon on the new center just across from the reception desk. The new center allows customers to send parcels anywhere, obtain money orders, stamps and pay bills. It also offers 24-hour Internet service. Prices are the same as at postal offices.