Academic sees benefits from EU’s revised stance on Thailand

BANGKOK, Dec 12 (TNA) -- The international community should have more confidence in Thailand as the European Union announced to resume its political ties with the country, an academic said. Thanawat Polvichai, economic and business forecasting director of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the EU’s resolution to revive political relations with the Thai military-led government at all levels responded to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s promise to hold the next general election in November 2018. The EU had suspended its political affairs with Thailand for 3 years to protest the military's seizure of administrative power in 2014. The movement of the EU would improve the image of Thailand in the eyes of countries worldwide and confidence would rise in Thai political, economic and social conditions, Mr Thanawat said. He said many world economic powers including China and Japan have resumed their investment in Thailand for a few years. Besides, Thailand has 20-year national development plans covering well-designed infrastructure projects and wider opening to foreign investment. The investment opportunities prompted the EU to review its stance towards Thailand, he said. (TNA)