|
 |
||
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
|
|||
US-ASEAN Business Council Announces October 8-11 Business Mission to Thailand
U.S. Business Delegation to Call on Prime Minister, Senior Cabinet Officials; Press Roundtable to be Held on Oct 10
(Washington, DC) The US-ASEAN Business Council today announced a 22-company
business mission to Thailand from October 9-11, 2001. Planning for this mission began well
before the tragic events of September 11, but the Council and its member companies agreed
that it was important to move forward with the mission despite the terrorist attacks in
New York and Washington. The group will be the first U.S. business mission to visit the
Kingdom since Prime Minister Thaksin assumed office in February.
The participating companies represent a variety of industries, including energy, express
delivery services, financial services, health care, information technology,
pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and other sectors.
"It is important for the world community to keep the channels of trade and investment
open, and our mission will underscore the firm commitment of the U.S. private sector to
Thailand," said William Ichord, Vice President, Washington, of Unocal Corporation,
and Chairman of the Council's US-Thailand Business Committee. "The companies
participating in this mission are invested not only in the economy, but in the fabric of
Thai society. They employ and train thousands of Thais, support educational programs,
transfer technology, and undertake research and development work in the Kingdom. This is a
group of companies that can provide a strong backbone to economic recovery and
growth."
"We support the Thai government's ongoing efforts to strengthen the financial and
corporate sectors, privatize state enterprises, expand educational resources, and maintain
an open trade and investment regime," said Ernest Bower, President of the US-ASEAN
Business Council. He noted that the companies will focus on a variety of specific business
priorities in Thailand, including the US-Thailand double taxation treaty; continued
customs modernization; telecommunications liberalization and deregulation; and other
issues. In addition, delegates will also discuss Thailand's participation in multilateral
forums, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), and its support of a new round of
World Trade Organization (WTO) talks. "This is the right time to enhance our ongoing
dialogue." Bower added.
The delegation will call on Prime Minister Thaksin during their three-day mission. In
addition, meetings are scheduled with Minister of Commerce Adisai Bodharamik, Minister of
Finance Somkid Jatusripitak, Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, and other senior
officials. Led by Council President Bower, the group will also hold a roundtable with Thai
and foreign journalists on Wednesday October 10.
Through the first seven months of this year, U.S. exports to Thailand have shown a marked
improvement from the same period in 2000, increasing by 21% to US$3.8 billion. However,
reflecting the slowing U.S. economy, U.S. imports from Thailand fell by 4%, to US$8.5
billion. At the end of last year, U.S. investment in Thailand stood at US$7.1 billion, an
increase of 64% since the onset of the financial crisis in 1997. The United States is
Thailand's largest export market, taking more than one-fifth of the Kingdom's total
exports.
"We have a longer history of trade and commerce with Thailand than with any other
nation in this region," noted Bower. He said that while U.S. business recognized the
current economic uncertainty in Southeast Asia, "we want to identify ways in which we
can build on our long friendship and work with the Thai government to increase Thailand's
competitiveness and attractiveness as a place in which to do business."
PRESS ROUNDTABLE
Led by Council President Bower, the delegation will discuss U.S. business interests in
Thailand with local and foreign journalists on Wednesday, October 10, from 11:30 A.M. -
12:15 P.M. The press roundtable will be held at:
Regent Hotel
155 Ratchadamri Road
Amorn Room, 2nd Floor
Bangkok 10330
If you plan to attend, or if you have any questions or need further information, please
contact Karen Ware, USFCS Bangkok, at 205-5090 or karen.ware@mail.doc.gov.
The US-ASEAN Business Council is America’s leading private, non-profit business organization dedicated to promoting increased trade and investment between the United States and the member nations of ASEAN. For information on the US-ASEAN Business Council or general information on the ASEAN region, please contact John Goyer at jgoyer@usasean.org or visit the Council’s Web site at www.us-asean.org.
# # # # #
|
|
 Register here to
receive US-ASEAN Business Council press releases and advisories as they are issued |
|||||||||
