Thailand woos foreign investors
Source: Agencies |
July 2, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SPA pampering, dinner with Thailand's prime minister, and speedy lines at the airport. These are just a few of the ways that Thailand is thanking a group of foreign investors it has designated "Thailand's Best Friends."
The campaign is part of the government's efforts to convince the international community that Thailand remains a friendly place to do business, despite concerns of political instability after 10 weeks of bloody anti-government protests that ended in mid-May.
The protests crippled parts of central Bangkok and left nearly 90 people dead and more than 1,400 wounded in clashes with security forces.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invited 150 of the top importers of Thai goods from 43 countries for a four-day expenses-paid trip this week that includes spas and horseback rides on the beach.
The event cost the Ministry of Commerce 72 million baht (US$2.2 million), said event spokesman Upathum Nisitsukharoen, but that's just a fraction of what it's getting in return.
Orders from the foreign companies, selected by Thailand's top exporters, are expected to exceed 66 billion baht this year.
Exports represented 58 percent of Thailand's GDP in 2009 and the ministry expects exports to grow by 14 percent in 2010, despite the political turmoil that badly hurt other sectors of the economy.
"This is a gesture of our appreciation to you, who are our valuable customers, our 'best friends' and our real friends," Abhisit told the group, which was invited to Government House for dinner.
The group boarded a train yesterday to the beach resort town of Hua Hin.
The campaign is part of the government's efforts to convince the international community that Thailand remains a friendly place to do business, despite concerns of political instability after 10 weeks of bloody anti-government protests that ended in mid-May.
The protests crippled parts of central Bangkok and left nearly 90 people dead and more than 1,400 wounded in clashes with security forces.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invited 150 of the top importers of Thai goods from 43 countries for a four-day expenses-paid trip this week that includes spas and horseback rides on the beach.
The event cost the Ministry of Commerce 72 million baht (US$2.2 million), said event spokesman Upathum Nisitsukharoen, but that's just a fraction of what it's getting in return.
Orders from the foreign companies, selected by Thailand's top exporters, are expected to exceed 66 billion baht this year.
Exports represented 58 percent of Thailand's GDP in 2009 and the ministry expects exports to grow by 14 percent in 2010, despite the political turmoil that badly hurt other sectors of the economy.
"This is a gesture of our appreciation to you, who are our valuable customers, our 'best friends' and our real friends," Abhisit told the group, which was invited to Government House for dinner.
The group boarded a train yesterday to the beach resort town of Hua Hin.
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