Address Speech

By

Vice Chairman and Secretary General of ACMECS Business Council (Thailand)

(Dr.Tanit Sorat)

On the occasion of Dialogue between ACMECS Leaders and business sector

Thursday, 7 November 2008 at 14.00-16.00 hours

Room 318, NCC

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the business representatives and the delegation from Thailand, it is a distinct honor and a great pleasure to attend this event and having opportunity to conclude collaboration results of ACMECS’s Proposal which the Government and business representatives from Thailand coordinated with business sector of member countries within ACMECS Strategies framework.  The issues that I am going to present to you are:

1. Trade and Investment Facilitation

Within the agreement on the establishment of Sister Cities, business sector would like to request ACMECS Leaders to promote closer cooperation and push forward other MOU to reinforce trade cooperation, trade facilitation, to reduce rules and regulations for deducting border trade problem.  Besides, it should sign MOU in multilateral level, such as, Thailand-Lao PDR-Vietnam or Thailand-Lao PDR-China in order to move trade and investment in the region.

2. Tourism Cooperation Sector

Within ACMECS cooperation, which will be the advantage and shared prosperity indicator, related to tourism promotion in ACMECS member countries. At currently, there are connecting route and bridge among member countries, how can we promote the tourism to be more prosperous.  Therefore, it should promote tourism connection, such as establishing Tourism Office both in the center and corridor in each country.

3. Agricultural Cooperation Sector

We would like to request the Governments to conclude the bilateral Contract Farming Agreement between Thailand and Myanmar, as well as Thailand and Cambodia to facilitate the import of agricultural produces from the registered Contract Farming projects as located in Myanmar and Cambodia to Thailand.

4. Industry and Investment Cooperation Sector

Investment promotion in member countries should be deeply promoted.  Thai investments are interested to invest in member countries both in Myanmar, Vietnam and Lao PDR, but there are some problems about different rules and regulations for investment and it can not reach into government device in each country which will make investment confidence.  Thailand and Vietnam should be the model to show that FDI Investment promotion will be the advantage and make the GDP grow in their countries.

5. Transport and Infrastructure Sector

As I had mentioned, it will be inoperative if there is not transport connection, therefore, business sector would like to request member government to consider the devices and regulations which are the problem for corridor connecting in each country, such as Single Stop Inspection, which it should be raise the succeed SSI at Dansavanh-Lao Bao Customs Point to be the model.  Moreover, promoting    E-Logistics in customs and trade side to be the same format as well as transport regulation, cross-border truck, particularly Route No.9 East-West Corridor and CBTA Agreement, which have already been signed is still inoperative in practice and it will lead to be the movement of goods, services, tourism and investment by the infrastructure network which have already been constructed.  Besides, we would like to see the collaboration in order to achieve railway construction from Yunnan through Thailand into Lao PDR as well as railway project in Dong Ha-Savannakhet-Mukdaharn, which will connect among ACMECS member countries feasibly, although, these projects are still be an ideal but they are the first step toward the future.

6. Human Resource Development

Human resource development in member countries needs to develop both in Vocational and Bachelor’s Degree level to be the same standard in each country.  In the future, ACMECS member countries will collaborate in the area of trade, investment, tourism and transport. Therefore, they should promote language studies project in their local university as well as culture exchange and scholarship for students in every level.

Finally, thank you very much Your Excellencies and the host Vietnam for having this opportunity and the warmest welcome to our business representatives from Thailand.  Thank you.