Amcham remains upbeat on Thailand
Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe impersonators promote the Buy & Visit USA Fair, which will be held at Bitec from September 1 to 3.
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The president of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) in Thailand said the current political stalemate should not affect American investment in the long run because American investors generally think Thailand is a stable nation to invest in.
Speaking at a press conference to launch Thailand's first Buy and Visit USA fair, Amcham president Stephen W Green said US investors tend to take a long-term view when choosing a country to invest in a country. Thailand, he said, has long been an active investment destination. Asked whether some investors have deferred their decisions to come here, he said: "It's hard to quantify." The accumulated investment from the US currently stands at US$21 billion, making Americans the second most active investors in Thailand after the Japanese. Green said there were huge amounts of American investment in energy, pharmaceuticals and financial services, among others. "American interest here is in [a] broad spectrum," he said. Commenting on the free-trade talks, he said: "My understanding is that the FTA is not finished. It's on a hiatus period, pending the status of the Thai government." Nonetheless, he added that Amcham supported the FTA talks from the start. Amcham is organising the first ever "Buy & Visit USA Fair" from Sept 1 to 3 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre. The fair, which coincides with Amcham Thailand's 50th anniversary, will feature a grand exhibition of American products and culture. Some 50,000 visitors are expected to join the event, said Charles Blocker Jr, vice president of Amcham. He said Thailand still has a lot to offer especially with a new international airport, which should attract more tourists. Blocker said the figures from hoteliers that are members of Amcham show the number of inbound American tourists is rising by 6 per cent on a yearly basis. US ambassador Ralph Boyce described the upcoming trade fair as "an exciting opportunity for the Thai people not only to know and learn about the US but also to gain first hand experience of the American lifestyle". Blocker said he hoped the fair would become an annual event.
Jeerawat Na Thalang, The Nation
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