Kittiratt-led mission to Tokyo

Kittiratt will head the delegation in his capacity as chairman of the National Water Resources Management Committee. He will be accompanied by former finance minister Veerapong Ramangura, who chairs the National Reconstruction and Future Development Committee, and the chairmen of the country’s three major private-sector organisations: the Board of Trade of Thailand (BoT), the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers Association.
On Tuesday, Veerapong and the Japanese ambassador to Bangkok met to exchange their governments’ views on Thailand’s flood crisis, which has hit the operations of many Japanese companies here and had a direct impact on their global production.
BoT secretary-general Vichai Assarasakorn said the Thai visit was requested by Japanese investors.
“Japanese investors want a clear explanation from the Thai government about its plans for rehabilitation and for preventing flooding in the future, in order to restore their confidence about continued investment in Thailand,” said Vichai.
Japan is the Kingdom’s largest source of foreign direct investment, accounting for more than 40 per cent of total foreign investment. However, many Japanese companies – in particular automobile producers – have been forced to suspend operations due to the floods, while many sectors participating in the supply chain have also been impacted.
The announcement of the mission follows the postponement of the Japan-Thailand Joint Trade Committee meeting between Thailand’s Joint Private Standing Committee and the Japanese Businesses Federation, which had been scheduled for November 28. Tokyo wanted the meeting put off until early next year to give Bangkok time to tackle the flood problems.