Entering ASEAN Community (AC) in 2015 The 2nd workshop on “Entering ASEAN Community (AC) in 2015” was presided over by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House, and a report on readiness in products and services was presented by, Mr. Akhom Termpittayapaisith, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). Thailand is actively assessing its readiness to prepare for the AEC, particularly relative to connectivity, an aspect which the prime minister considers to be particularly important. Connectivity is being improved for road, air, and maritime transport, but attention also needs to be focused on energy, ICT, and communication the outcome of the workshop was the adoption of the following eight “strategies: 1 – Promote competitiveness on products, services, trade, and investment, which includes domestic investment promotion, facilitation, marketing, competitive capabilities, improvement and development in standards and productivity. 2 – Improve quality of life and social protection to enhance a secure and safe environment for the people. 3 – Develop infrastructure and logistics to enhance connectivity and facilitate trade and investment. 4 – Develop human resources to meet ASEAN education standards and develop skills and language proficiency. 5 – Improve laws and regulations to facilitate trade and investment, for benefits protection and competitiveness enhancement. 6 – Promote public awareness, including among government officials and entrepreneurs, with regard to the importance of the AC. 7 – Strengthen security, cooperation, partnership, and management of land and maritime border areas, including development of supporting factors such as databases. 8 – Enhance city competitiveness to catch up with ASEAN opportunities in the areas of industry, tourism, border trade and investment. For this, PM Yingluck proposed the formulation of a branding strategy for major cities such as the capital,
agricultural city, industrial city, tourism city, border-area commercial city, and green city. While calling for all ministries and related agencies to consider these strategies and devise an action plan, the Thai Public Relations Department reports that the prime minister also assigned the NESDB to conduct analysis of “Thailand’s readiness in additional areas, prioritization of Thai main products and services, strengths and weaknesses of major industries that would affect national GDP particularly the industries that need to be expanded such as agro industry, automotive and auto parts industry, and fashion and textile industry. Collaboration with provincial and private sectors is necessary to acquire in-depth information on Thailand’s readiness level, and the impact of AC in order for the government to develop a policy planning.” This issue will be further elaborated as the time draws near for the ASEAN Economic Community to emerge on the world scene, with Thailand at its crossroads.