Govt not invited for chamber's annual meet

“The Thai political [situation] is fragile currently. The chamber has carefully considered that we should not get involved with the [current] events as it could lead to misunderstanding ... [The chamber] expects to see a political solution and stronger growth soon,” said TCC chairman Isara Vongkusolkit.

This is the second time the TCC has made such a decision. In 2009, then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also had to cancel his plans to participate in the chamber’s annual meeting in Chiang Mai, because of protests by the red shirts.

This year, the TCC had invited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to speak at the closing ceremony of the meeting, to be held from tomorrow to Sunday (Nov 22-24) in the southern city of Trang. Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong was then scheduled to replace Yingluck and receive proposals from the TCC after the meeting. But now he has been advised to cancel his participation too.

The 31st TCC annual meeting |will be held under the theme of “Change Minds and Change Me, to Be Excellent”.

Isara said private enterprise this year would focus on developing competitiveness to ensure the survival and growth of Thai enterprises after the Asean Economic Community comes into effect in 2015.

Somkiat Anuras, vice chairman of the TCC, said about 1,300 businesspeople and media from around the country were expected to take part in the annual meeting. The chamber will brainstorm ideas and strategies to promote growth of business, and will sum up those proposals to the government.

Although the government will not join the event, the proposals coming out of the meeting will be related to it during the next meeting of the Joint Public-Private Committee.

Asked about Parliament’s endorsement late on Tuesday of the Bt2-trillion infrastructure development project, Isara said the chamber supported the mega-project, but the government and involved enterprises needed to ensure transparency.

He said that if the project could be implemented next year, it should help boost the economy. However, if there are any delays, that may slow growth.