Recently, Dr. Satit Bhotivihok, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office delivered an opening address at the seminar entitled "Thailand's Economic Crisis and the Eighth Plan Revision" organized by the Office of the NESDB. The Eighth National Economic and Social Development Plan, he said, has to be revised to suit the current economic crisis, based on public opinion to be derived from the seminar.
Three major conditions to be considered for the revising the Plan, proposed by the Minister of the Prime Miniter's Office, were as follows:
1. International rules and regulations in which Thailand get involved should be considered. These are, for instance, UN conventions, WTO, human rights and environmental concern, etc. It is undeniable that the country's economic and social structures rely greatly the above international agreements, so we have to clearly understand them.
2. The IMF conditions are basic factors for both short and long term development trend of Thailand.
3. The new constitution will set forth several novel ideas in the Thai society, especially role of the general public in national development and popular participation. They should get involved in development planning, political development, and learn how to exercise their legitimate rights to supervise government operations at all levels.
The Minister of the Prime Minister's Office further stated that the country development guidelines can be adjusted in 4 areas as follows:
1. The national development plan, budgeting and human development should go through the same direction. The Eighth Plan should clearly show the reform guidelines for budgeting system, government officials and organizations.
2. The liberalization and internationalization process should be continued. Through the national economic recovery process to be supported by the IMF, foreign investors would hold more stakes in several enterprises and services. The Eighth Plan should take this issue for considerationl.
3. Short-term plan should be mapped out, by designating explicitly the target to tackle the financial crisis, amending related laws, providing measures to assist laid-off workers and the underprivileged. Also needed would be the medium term plan and the economic restructuring plan which would be tabled for consideration later.
4. Public and private cooperation is needed for successful negotiations at the globallevel. We should set up the negotiation teams to protect national interest at international arena.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 13, No.1: January 1998--
Three major conditions to be considered for the revising the Plan, proposed by the Minister of the Prime Miniter's Office, were as follows:
1. International rules and regulations in which Thailand get involved should be considered. These are, for instance, UN conventions, WTO, human rights and environmental concern, etc. It is undeniable that the country's economic and social structures rely greatly the above international agreements, so we have to clearly understand them.
2. The IMF conditions are basic factors for both short and long term development trend of Thailand.
3. The new constitution will set forth several novel ideas in the Thai society, especially role of the general public in national development and popular participation. They should get involved in development planning, political development, and learn how to exercise their legitimate rights to supervise government operations at all levels.
The Minister of the Prime Minister's Office further stated that the country development guidelines can be adjusted in 4 areas as follows:
1. The national development plan, budgeting and human development should go through the same direction. The Eighth Plan should clearly show the reform guidelines for budgeting system, government officials and organizations.
2. The liberalization and internationalization process should be continued. Through the national economic recovery process to be supported by the IMF, foreign investors would hold more stakes in several enterprises and services. The Eighth Plan should take this issue for considerationl.
3. Short-term plan should be mapped out, by designating explicitly the target to tackle the financial crisis, amending related laws, providing measures to assist laid-off workers and the underprivileged. Also needed would be the medium term plan and the economic restructuring plan which would be tabled for consideration later.
4. Public and private cooperation is needed for successful negotiations at the globallevel. We should set up the negotiation teams to protect national interest at international arena.
--Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 13, No.1: January 1998--