On 10 November 2011, on the sidelines of the 23rd APEC Ministerial Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul delivered a statement at the Asia-Pacific Business Symposium. Organized by the East-West Center (EWC) and focusing on “Regional Sustainability and Resiliency through Public-Private Partnerships, Trade and Small and Medium Enterprises”, the event was attended by high-level participants from business, government, academia and non-profit organizations with an interest in Asia.
In his speech, the Foreign Minister began by highlighting the Center’s role in promoting better understanding between the United States and the Asian region, including its ties with Thailand which go back at least four decades to when His Majesty the King visited and presented the Center with a Thai pavilion in 1967.
Regarding Thailand, the Minister noted that the Kingdom had seen its share of difficult situations and challenges—politically and economically. On the political front, the overwhelming support from the July elections was not only a win for political stability but a victory for democracy. The Thai people have spoken and their voice was loud and clear, giving a mandate for government to move the country forward on the basis of inclusive economic growth and people-centered development.
On the current flood situation in Thailand, the Minister expressed his appreciation to all the countries that had extended support and assistance to the Kingdom. To speed up recovery efforts, Cabinet has approved a Relief and Recovery Plan and Package, including immediate relief measures to flood victims, social rehabilitation activities, post-crisis loans and incentives, and a long-term plan to develop a comprehensive water resources management system to prevent the recurrence of such devastation.
The Minister also reiterated the Government’s determination to assist investors, both Thai and foreign, in flood-hit areas to resume operation as soon as possible. Measures would also be put in place to accelerate the post-crisis reconstruction of industrial estates and logistics system.
As many countries in the region are prone to national disasters, the Minister underscored the need to strengthen disaster risk management and consider reform in a systematic manner. This should be accomplished by the international community working together to mobilize resources and enhance cooperation and advance economic integration.
It is in this spirit that Thailand has been working towards the integration of ASEAN Community in 2015, which would open up new business and trade opportunities in the region in which Thailand could play a central role. Given the Kingdom’s strategic location, Thailand was pivotal to connectivity in ASEAN and surrounding regions. At the same time, there was a need to intensify broader community building by deepening engagement within the region, be they within ASEAN, ASEAN + 3, APEC and the East Asia Summit, among others.
In closing, the Minister reassured participants of Thailand’s strong fundamentals and an enabling environment for the international business community, as reflected by a recent World Bank report ranking Thailand as the second easiest place to do business in Southeast Asia due to its business-friendly regulatory environment. Thailand would also continue to be a key and active player in engaging its partners in the process of economic integration and community building in Asia Pacific in order to strengthen the fabric of peace, stability and prosperity.
Press release of the Foreign Minister’s full statement, please visit /web/35.php?id=28342 >
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th