Thailand ready to be part of AEC

BANGKOK, August 16 (TNA) - The local public and private sectors have agreed that Thailand is ready to participate in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) although there are several actions needed to be immediately taken for the participation. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan said on Friday that at present, as much as 70 per cent of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are ready for the AEC and all government agencies are joining forces to prepare SMEs for the regional economic community. However, Niwatthamrong acknowledged, immediate tasks need to be accomplished before the AEC formation by 2015, including the development of border crossings and border towns, trade and investment connectivity, the development of products, services and education on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the improvement of language skills, namely skills in English and other ASEAN languages, the development of human resources, namely those in the public sector, the efficient and adequate distribution of welfare, as well as educational development and the promotion of security in the region. The deputy prime minister made the remarks when opening a seminar entitled “the AEC and SMEs Challenges:Next steps”, during which he also noted that Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has attached importance to strategies for the AEC participation. According to the deputy premier, the Thai prime minister has already discussed the strategies with concerned governmental agencies and the private sector and she has focused on the readiness of the private sector. Meanwhile, Issara Vongkusolkij, Chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, pointed out that Thai SMEs are readier than those in many countries in relation to the AEC and he agreed with the Thai government’s plan to invest over 2 trillion baht for further developing infrastructure nationwide, especially double rail tracks. Issara also urged the Thai government to create an atmosphere favorable to businesses, for example, by restructuring taxes and streamlining import and export procedures. (TNA)