The Development New Bulletin, August 1997, reported the first visit to the Office of the NESDB of Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont; Chairman of Chareon Pokphand (CP) Groups and his dalegates. He delivered a briefing on "CP Investment in Neighboring Countries and Guidelines for Business Cooperation" which can be summarized, as follows;
For successful agri-business, according to Mr. Dhanin, high- quality crop varieties and well-bred animals are very essential to make the investment worthwhile. Feasibility studies on the market trend and demand will enable private entrepreneurs to produce the right thing for the market.
Mr. Dhanin further said that everybody wants to buy high-quality goods at lower prices. It is also true that if factories produce efficiently, high-quality and quantity will be achieved.
Moreover, cultivation and harvest are very important to agri- business. They should be undertaken at appropriate time, or yields will be low. Besides, farmers have to take a good care of humidity problems, as they have to know to properly keep high-quality of crops.
Transportation is also important for successful agribusiness because farmers have to swiftly more output to market to gain a better price. Good transportation can sometimes enable farmers to avoid price fluctuation in the market.
Government assistance is important for farmers too. It should restructure the tax system to protect domestic goods and facilitate exported goods. For instance, many countries like European countries and Japan set up tariff barrier, approximately up to 60-80 percent of imported goods to support their agri-products.
According to Mr. Dhanin, the Thai government should redistribute and extend provision of economic and social services necessary to support the building of potential of Thai farmers. In this regard, promoting good prices of crops is an appropriate measure for income distribution on more equitable basis.
All Thais will obtain an equal share of the prosperity and other benefits resulting from development. Regional and rural people can earn more to upgrade quality of life and expand their farmland.
For instance, said Mr. Dhanin, the Chinese government increased prices agricultural output to cope with the problem of higher cost of living. Japan, in addition, has maintained high crop prices to enhance farm sector of the country, despite marked progress in industrialization.
As for agricultural development, Mr. Dhanin gave an opinion that we should reform structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The Thai government should also improve agricultural budget in order to support the development activities effcienly. Besides, it is necrssary to study the market trends so as to meet the market demand. In this regard, the government has to support agriculture forward market, which is beneficial for farmers and investors.
The government, Mr. Dhanin suggested, should focus on certain product lines in which Thailand has comparative advantages. Basically, Thailand is an agriculture-based economy, so we had better cooperate and think about what we should trade in the world market.
In addition, Chairman of CP group added that the government should upgrade process of import-export services to gacilitate capital mobilization for the development of industry and related activities. High technologies, presently, also play a greater role in industrial development. The governmenet should provide long-term soft loans or seek overseas loans to strengthen private sector role for their business expansion.
On labor issues, Mr. Dhanin stated that we should upgrade potentials for skill labors to generate wider employment opportunities, especially working in foreign countries.
On the other hand, foreign investors should be attracted to invest in Thailand by providing incentives so as to enhance international competitiveness of the country.
Lastly, Mr. Dhanin also expressed his comment on Thai education development that the government should extend the provision of education services at all levels in all regions. These services can be provided in both formal and non-formal systems, and should include the application of modern educational technology. The government should provide efficient teachers to teach through the technology so as to distribute to rural and the underprivileged people in nationwide.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 12, No.9: September 1997--
For successful agri-business, according to Mr. Dhanin, high- quality crop varieties and well-bred animals are very essential to make the investment worthwhile. Feasibility studies on the market trend and demand will enable private entrepreneurs to produce the right thing for the market.
Mr. Dhanin further said that everybody wants to buy high-quality goods at lower prices. It is also true that if factories produce efficiently, high-quality and quantity will be achieved.
Moreover, cultivation and harvest are very important to agri- business. They should be undertaken at appropriate time, or yields will be low. Besides, farmers have to take a good care of humidity problems, as they have to know to properly keep high-quality of crops.
Transportation is also important for successful agribusiness because farmers have to swiftly more output to market to gain a better price. Good transportation can sometimes enable farmers to avoid price fluctuation in the market.
Government assistance is important for farmers too. It should restructure the tax system to protect domestic goods and facilitate exported goods. For instance, many countries like European countries and Japan set up tariff barrier, approximately up to 60-80 percent of imported goods to support their agri-products.
According to Mr. Dhanin, the Thai government should redistribute and extend provision of economic and social services necessary to support the building of potential of Thai farmers. In this regard, promoting good prices of crops is an appropriate measure for income distribution on more equitable basis.
All Thais will obtain an equal share of the prosperity and other benefits resulting from development. Regional and rural people can earn more to upgrade quality of life and expand their farmland.
For instance, said Mr. Dhanin, the Chinese government increased prices agricultural output to cope with the problem of higher cost of living. Japan, in addition, has maintained high crop prices to enhance farm sector of the country, despite marked progress in industrialization.
As for agricultural development, Mr. Dhanin gave an opinion that we should reform structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The Thai government should also improve agricultural budget in order to support the development activities effcienly. Besides, it is necrssary to study the market trends so as to meet the market demand. In this regard, the government has to support agriculture forward market, which is beneficial for farmers and investors.
The government, Mr. Dhanin suggested, should focus on certain product lines in which Thailand has comparative advantages. Basically, Thailand is an agriculture-based economy, so we had better cooperate and think about what we should trade in the world market.
In addition, Chairman of CP group added that the government should upgrade process of import-export services to gacilitate capital mobilization for the development of industry and related activities. High technologies, presently, also play a greater role in industrial development. The governmenet should provide long-term soft loans or seek overseas loans to strengthen private sector role for their business expansion.
On labor issues, Mr. Dhanin stated that we should upgrade potentials for skill labors to generate wider employment opportunities, especially working in foreign countries.
On the other hand, foreign investors should be attracted to invest in Thailand by providing incentives so as to enhance international competitiveness of the country.
Lastly, Mr. Dhanin also expressed his comment on Thai education development that the government should extend the provision of education services at all levels in all regions. These services can be provided in both formal and non-formal systems, and should include the application of modern educational technology. The government should provide efficient teachers to teach through the technology so as to distribute to rural and the underprivileged people in nationwide.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 12, No.9: September 1997--