Forward-looking attitude will reveal opportunities

Hundreds of Kasikornbank’s SME clients gathered at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to listen to experts’ views on Thailand’s economic outlook.

Asian heads of business also gathered at Conrad Hotel as planned, to attend CNBC’s 2013 Asia Business Leaders Awards. There was relatively little laughter compared to previous years, but I don’t think it was because guests noticed what was going on in another corner of Bangkok.

The 11th World Film Festival kicked off on schedule at SF Cinema, where Thai and foreign guests mingled.  

Attending the three events cheered me up. Regardless of where they were from, the guests demonstrated their belief that things must go on despite hindering factors.

Last week was tough, with protests continuing and veering away from the amnesty bill and towards the government, plus the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the Preah Vihear territory dispute, which sparked different interpretations.

At the KBank event, there was a tough note sounded in opening remarks. Aside from political conflict at home, external factors look fragile with huge public debts in the euro zone which could take dealt five or more years to deal with, reforms in China and a rocky recovery in Japan. Yet, amid difficulties, some saw opportunities.  

Thongma Vijitpongpun, CEO of Pruksa Real Estate, recalled tough times in the 1990s when the company was first established. In those days, customers were nervous about buying houses amid a spate of cheating developers who took down-payments and then failed to deliver. Pruksa resorted to engineering techniques to speed up construction. Progress was measured day by day. This was to assure buyers that their houses would be delivered on schedule. It was fruitful. From sale revenues of less than Bt1 billion, the company’s now reports figures of nearly Bt40 billion.

“Even in the ‘red ocean’, there are opportunities,” he told the audience.

At the CNBC event, which will be broadcast internationally on television on November 28, several business leaders in Asia showed how they were helping build a better world. I gave two thumbs up to Rohana Binti Tan Sri Datuk haji Rozhan, who received the CSR Award. Astro Malaysia Holdings’ CSR approach is based on three pillars – learning, community and environment.

Receiving the award, Rohana was too modest to talk about her achievement. Instead, she said was she was privileged to engage in projects where she met children and teachers. She was happy that under her care, young athletes were being given a chance to experience the English Premier League. Another group will soon visit the Olympic Village in Tokyo later this year.

At the film festival, “The Rocket” – the story of a Laotian boy who battles against destiny to prove he is not bad luck to his family – was screened. The boy comes from a hilltribe which believes that the first-born of twins is a curse. Amid troubled times – the entire village is evacuated ahead of dam construction, and his mother dies – he put all efforts into making a rocket for a competition. With the big prize, he and his family will be able to settle down somewhere.

Despite flaws, this film – Laos’ nomination for the Oscars – is inspirational. I saw the spirit of hope shine in its lead character.

That contrasted starkly with the feeling when I checked out the messages punched out last week through the social media. I was surprised at how pessimistic some Thais could be over the ICJ ruling. “Thailand lost” was a prominent theme, despite a very different view from the Thai legal team and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong, who said that both countries were winners. Nationalists may be displeased that the promontory boundary was redefined, but they should not ignore the fact that Cambodia does not have the sole rights over the 4.6-sq km disputed area surroundings.

I couldn’t help being impressed with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra when she said: “Two neighbours living together without fighting or violence. This should be what everyone wants.” I guess that border villagers who are on Facebook would “like” this.

Elsewhere, many people in Bangkok are hoping the escalating protests would topple a government they believe to be a “Thaksin regime”. It saddens me that some are yearning for violent confrontation. Though they know the negative consequences, they want a battle so as to topple the government.

Right now, it can seem that Thailand has no future at all, as politicians protest on the street while the government fails to regain people’s trust. Lawmakers are busy fighting a war of words, rather than focusing on the content of legislation in front of them.  

While wealthy citizens may look on all this as a threat to their wealth, the majority of Thais still have to eat and pay the rent. Life goes on. It would be better if it did so without us losing hope in ourselves and others. There is always a tomorrow.