Jetro offers help for Japanese firms

Setsuo Iuchi, president of Jetro Bangkok, said yesterday that the help desk at its Ratchadamri office would provide basic information, consultation and discussion on measures to cope with the flooding and to recover after the floods have receded.
To tally losses and develop relief plans, Jetro recently talked with some Japanese firms that were impacted.
However, they could not yet estimate the damage, as the impact has been prolonged. Most are just trying to secure their factories and solve urgent problems.
According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), about 70 per cent of companies in the Rojana and Saha Rattana Nakorn industrial estates in Ayutthaya are Japanese. Most are in the automobile, electronics and supply-chain industries.
It is still too early to consider future investment plans for Japanese enterprises, as it would not be easy to move or shift to other areas or overseas, Iuchi said. However, natural calamities are among the many factors for foreign direct investors to consider when deciding to locate in any area, as they need to ensure that their factories will be safe.
To help both local and foreign companies reopen as soon as possible, the Thai government could provide soft loans, help increase liquidity and waive some charges, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, he added.
Pakorn Wangsilabat, chairman of the FTI’s Ayutthaya chapter, said losses were estimated at about Bt1 billion a day, mainly in industrial parks.
The government could waive corporate taxes, halt payment of utility bills, and provide soft loans to help flooded enterprises restore operations, he suggested.
The FTI pointed out that the major industries in Ayutthaya were electrical products and electronics, machinery, wood and products, and agribusiness.