ภาษาไทยThai Ambassador’s Message at Business Luncheon
On January 11, 2017, Ambassador Pisan Manawapat shared updates and views on Thai-US relations with a close circle of executives from leading U.S. companies at the Potomac Exchange in Washington D.C.. The luncheon was hosted by Katherine H. Moss, the incumbent President of Potomac Exchange and attended by executives from Google, Oracle, Coca-Cola, BMW, Bank of America, Boston Scientific, Lockheed Martin, Aetna International, TE Connectivity, Pernod Ricard USA, and McGuire Woods Consulting.
Invited as the first Ambassador to speak in 2017, Ambassador Pisan laid out a strong ground on why American businesses will continue to thrive in Thailand, U.S.’s oldest friend in Asia and reliable treaty ally in the Far East.
He filled in updates on the country’s roadmap to election as well as ongoing economic and education reforms gearing towards a value-based economy driven by innovation or Thailand 4.0. He pointed out that 2017 will be an opportune time particularly for tech companies to delve in with the country’s Digital Economy policy. Rankings from different agencies prove Thailand fare much better than previous years including joining Indonesia and India CNBC’s best performers in the Asian region for 2017.
Thailand’s Rankings
- (CNBC) region’s best performers of 2017, along with India and Indonesia
- (S. News) best country to start a new business in 2016 (#2 Malaysia/ #3 the Philippines/ #4 Canada/ #5 China/ #6 India/#7 Netherlands/ #8 Australia/ #9 U.S. /#10 Singapore)
- (Bloomberg’s Misery Index) happiest economy in the world for two consecutive years (2015-2016)
- (Institute for Management Development:IMD) #28 out of 61 on World Competitiveness ranking in 2016
- (WEF) #32 out of 140 on Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016
- (World Bank) #46 out of 189 on Ease of Doing Business 2017
Ambassador Pisan invited his audience to hear more of business opportunities in Thailand in the upcoming large-scale seminar hosted by the Board of Investment (BOI) in Bangkok on February 15, 2017.
(For more detail, visit http://www.boi.go.th/index.php?page=boi_event_detail&&topic_id=14542)
The companies representatives around the table were asked to convey to Capitol Hill and the new administration that Thailand remains key to the U.S. to achieve its strategic goals in Southeast Asia and Bangkok looks forward to reinvigorating its relationship to the fullest potential with the Trump Administration.
Among a wide range of issues the U.S. private sector was keen to exchange, Ambassador Pisan also responded to the final question on why His Majesty the late King was deeply loved and respected by his citizens. He spoke passionately about His Majesty’s tireless dedication to the well being of his subjects in every part of the Kingdom over the past 70 years.
The Potomac Exchange, founded in 1987, is an exclusive, yet broad-based, members only organization of executives representing leading U.S. and global businesses, NGOs, and financial institutions with worldwide operations. It serves as forum for meaningful dialog between its members and accredited foreign ambassadors.
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Rachada Suthepakul
Counselor
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