Candidates for FTI chairman lay out policies

Supant, currently a vice chairman of the FTI, said he wanted to bring more unity into the organisation and encourage all parties that are in conflict to work together as much as possible.

"If I am elected as the new FTI chairman, I will be pleased to work with every party. including those with against competition. I want to delete all the norms of the past that the failure party would resign and … caused many smart people we needed to leave the FTI. Under my chairmanship, I’m ready to bring those quality people back to work further at the organisation.

"Mostly I want to see the end of polarisation at the FTI." If Khun Visit, who proposed himself to compete for the FTI chairmanship, will pull himself out of the competition and work with us as a team, we will be pleased to create a new dimension for the FTI by eliminating all separation. We will be able to work together for the optimal benefit at FTI," Supant said.

He said he was quite confident of winning the election as he had received good support from most industrial groups in the initial evaluation. He will conduct a roadshow to meet with long-time members particularly in the Northern region, while Jane Namchaisiri, who is also a vice chairman of the FTI and is an important member of Supant’s team, will take care of revealing policy. and seeking votes among members at his close and related industries.

Supant also revealed his five strategic plans for the FTI.

The first strategy is to create unity in the federation by improving collaboration among its provincial chapters and industrial groups, and to encourage the large-industry sector to support the small-industry sector better.

Second, he would push for modernisation of the technology and database systems of industry. and focus on the development of a database centre for all FTI members and the overall industrial sector.

Third, he wants to make Thai industries leaders in Asean. and focus on collaboration with the government sector and educational institutes to provide research and development and technical support to industrial operators so that they will be able to compete within the Asean Economic Community.

His fourth strategy is to make the working structure at the FTI stronger by focusing on training. and knowledge-based support while initiating state-of-the-art technology to enhance the organisation’s management.

Finally, he wants FTI members to be responsible to society, and to that end would focus on training about corporate social responsibility and encourage financial support for CSR activities.

Meanwhile, Visit Limpana, another vice chairman of the FTI who is another candidate to head the organisation, said he also wanted to foster harmonisation at the federation.

Visit, who is also chairman of the Food Processing Industry Club of the FTI, said the club would meet on November 21 tomorrow and would invite both Supant and Jane to lay out their policies. The group is quite open and willing to work with any party, he said.

"For this election, I myself don’t want to see anyone win or lose, but to see change at the FTI. I want all FTI provincial chapters to be treated fairly and with higher interest. Anyway, if I win the election, I will be pleased to let both Khun Jane and Supant work together as a team for all parties’ benefits," Visit said.