TCC chairman names vice chairman as successor 1 year before end of tenure
The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) chairman Sanan Angubolkul recently announced that the incumbent vice chairman will be taking over from him when his tenure ends next year.
At TCC’s annual caucus on April 19, Sanan said TCC vice chairman Poj Aramwattananont will be nominated as the chamber’s 26th chairman in the 2025 TCC caucus.
Sanan said that in line with TCC’s long-held tradition, his successor too will be prepared for a year to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations.
He added that since TCC was formed in 1933, it has been working smoothly, with leadership transitions taking place seamlessly.
Meanwhile, he said, there were many challenges left for him to tackle and before he goes, he will ensure that the TCC joins hands with the government to drive the country’s growth beyond the 3% mark.
Sanan said that under his leadership, TCC will carry out five flagship projects, namely:
• Upgrade 10 provinces from second-tier to first-tier
He said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin agreed with TCC’s plan to upgrade the provinces of Phrae, Lampang, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Nakhon Phanom, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Sawan, Chanthaburi and Kanchanaburi.
Hence, he said, a TCC, government and private sector joint committee had pioneered the initiative in Nakhon Phanom on April 5.
• Develop and support SMEs
Sanan said the TCC will join forces with state and financial institutions to consider setting new loan regulations that will make it easier for SMEs to get funding. TCC will also help small and medium-sized enterprises prepare for digital transformation.
• Advise the government on economic stimulus measures
Sanan said the TCC will urge the government to accelerate the disbursement of the fiscal 2024 budget to stimulate the economy. He also said that the government can use the existing Pao Tang app to immediately hand out the 10,000-baht subsidy to people without waiting to create a special super app for the job.
• Work on boosting Thailand’s international standing
Sanan said the TCC backed the government’s decision to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), adding that Thailand will stand to gain a lot from its membership. He added that the TCC also wanted the government to boost bilateral trade with five strategic countries, namely China, the US, Vietnam, India and Japan.
• Support the use of AI to drive the economy
Sanan said TCC will work with technology providers and tech companies to push for the development of an e-government system, so state agencies can tend to people and businesses quickly.
