On 18 February 2009 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the Kenan Institute Asia co-organised a presentation on “Leveraging Suvarnabhumi and Thailand’s Other Airports for Competitive Advantage” by Dr. John D. Kasarda, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Enterpreneurship and Director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with opening remarks by Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the presentation, Dr. Kasarda highlighted the importance of airport industry to tourism industry and air cargo, which tremendously increased in number nowadays. Dr. Kasarda proposed that the aerotropolis, which includes business, industrial and residential complexes, network of transports, and free trade zones, should be prudently planned to fully utilise the airport to foster economic growth. Policies to increase the speed, agility and connectivity of goods and people’s movement should be implemented for Thailand to remain its competitive advantage.
The presentation was followed by a panel discussion by Mr.Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Deputy Secretary General of NESDB, and Mrs. Wanporn Buasri, Deputy Vice President, Corporate Strategy Department, Airports of Thailand PCL., moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Karndee Leopairote, Executive Director, Thammasat Business Consulting Centre, to exchange insights on utilising airports for fostering Thai economy. The audiences are representatives from government and private sectors concerned with logistics and air cargo services, and representatives from diplomatic missions and international organizations in Thailand.
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