Thai cooperation sought in key areas
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JAPAN'S private sector has called on Thailand to cooperate in key areas, including human resources development, support small and medium-sized enterprises and look ahead to the Asean Economic Community in driving the integration of rules and regulations,
The aim is to support business and investment growth between the two countries as well as in Asean.
After a meeting yesterday between Akira Murakoshi, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce (JCC) in Bangkok, and Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, the Commerce Ministry’s spokesman Bangjongjit Angsusinh said Japan sought Thailand’s support and cooperation to promote stronger growth between the two sides amid the global economic recovery.
Key issues from the Japan side are support for SMEs’ investment and cooperation between Thai and Japanese SMEs, as many Japanese SMEs have shown strong interest in investing in Thailand and Asean countries.
Industries that Japan SMEs are focusing on are food, automobiles and parts, and services.
The JCCs in Asean, including JCC Bangkok, have also proposed a 10-year plan to develop Asean’s human resources and education, and other programmes to produce more technicians to support investment and economic activities in the region.
Japan also urged Thailand to be a centre for integrating Asean’s rules and regulations, and product standards, so that trade between Asean and its trading partners will be smoothly expanded under regional integration after 2015.
Japanese firms would continue investing in Thailand, as the economy would be picking up and growing strongly.
“According to the latest survey, Japanese investors still have confidence to continue or start new investment in Thailand in various industries,” Murakoshi said.
“Many Japanese firms are also keen to invest in the subway project of Thailand and believe more investment from Japan will come to the country.”
