Thai investors urged to eye Vietnamese market

BANGKOK, February 9 (TNA) - Thai business operators have been suggested to explore more opportunities in the potential Vietnamese market, as part of their preparations for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 with growing trade liberalization and competition in the region. Charoen Siriwattanapakdi, Chairman of Bangkok-based Berli Jucker Public Company Limited (BJC), a leading Thai manufacturer of consumer products, recommended the Thai business operators to expand their investment and trade into Vietnam and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to widen Thailand's markets and to boost or even maintain the country's competitiveness after the AEC is formed. Charoen said, however, that he believes Thai business operators, especially those of small and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs, will keep pace with growing regional competition and challenges. Meanwhile, a top Thai envoy in Hanoi, Komkrit Varakamin, acknowledged that the expanding Vietnamese economy, in which as much as 50 per cent of total 89 million population are in their working ages, is ready to join the AEC. Besides, Vietnam has a clear vision for its economic development, including plans to become a major agro-industrial country by 2020 and, given its stable politics, Vietnam will likely be both a key trading partner and competitor of Thailand in the future. (TNA)