Thailand enhances position in ASEAN's industrial arena

積極的市場發展和通過更多刺激手段來支持新興行業的當前政府政策，正向全世界發出信號：該國將不會放棄其作為製造業動力工廠的地位。

Concerns over political instability and lack of clear economic directions had adversely affected and threatened Thailand's rapid economic growth in the past two years. The political uncertainty has been neutralized with the election of a new government in January 2008 and the swearing into office of a new set of government officials, sending a positive signal to the rest of the world that the country is on the rebound and is out to regain its position as one of the fastest growing economies in the ASEAN region. Warmly welcomed by the international community, the new Thai government vowed to initiate reforms to boost the country's economic and social conditions by working immediately on the most urgent issues and projects with impact on the business sector. It also assured wary investors that it will continue to implement businessfriendly measures and launch projects to support the business sector, such as the mega frastructures. This year is expected to put Thailand back on track and the optimism is reflected in the Fiscal Policy Office's revision of its economic forecast to 5.6% from 5%. Even with the political situation slowing down growth and investment inflows, the country has maintained its sound fiscal position. Thanks to an anticipated upsurge in local consumption and private spending, businesses are also seeing a recovery and putting their money back into the industries. Private investment is expected to pick up and is likely to expand by 9.7% this year from the previous year's extremely low 0.5%. The new government's key to regaining investors?confidence lies in the implementation of tax incentives and relaxing investment limits in certain industries. Proposal to strengthen core industries In addition to tax incentives, the Thailand Board of Investment (BoI) also presented several proposals to encourage investment, and included in the proposals is the aggressive promotion of selected industries as well as the launching of more road shows and trade missions abroad. The government also held a seminar to strengthen the country's main industries early this year. Entitled 慣hailand's Industrial Future,?the seminar included representatives from each of Thailand's five core industries - automotive and auto parts, electronics and electrical appliances, processed foods, textiles and plastics - all of which are expected to become the country's leading export champions by 2012. The Thailand Investment Review released by the BoI summarized the plans and directions these industries are taking as announced by representatives of these five core industries during the seminar. Director of the National Food Institute of Thailand, Mr.Yuthasak Supasorn, explained that Thailand's processed food industry has grown by an average of 11% in the past six years. Thailand's processed food industry is presently the 7th largest exporter in the world and the target is for the country to rank among the three largest exporters in the future. By the year 2012, Thailand eyes export of processed foods to reach US$16.7 billion. Textile is another promising industry. Executive director of the Thailand Textile Institute, Mr. Virat Tandaechanurat, stated that Japan, Europe and ASEAN are the major markets that drive growth in Thailand's textile industry. The country aims to become the 揑taly of ASEAN?with 10% annual growth up to 2012 through new developments in fabric manufacturing. Thailand is also moving to boost its producBlack Friday 19