And in his role as executive chairman of the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim), Narongchai retains that status. During a meeting on Monday between economic reporters and top Exim executives, he gave quite a clear picture of how Thailand should catch up with the changing global economic landscape.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening up of the Chinese economy, many new markets have emerged. But some of them, particularly Vietnam, have become both key rivals to Thai manufacturers and new destinations for Thai businessmen to penetrate.

Narongchai highlighted the strong demand for construction in other Asian countries, particularly in South Asian countries like India, where Thai expertise in this field should be appreciated.

As usual, following his speech there was a story to back up his theory. It involved a bad experience he once had in the airport in Bangalore, India.

He was there for a transit flight to Bombay. Facing a three-hour wait, he killed the time with a paperback that told how to live comfortably in one's old age and an iPod that contained 45 songs. During his wait, a swarm of mosquitoes kept him alert.

For a man over 60, that must have been very uncomfortable. Still, he refused to let lack of comfort cloud his mind: in that situation, he saw an opportunity for exporting Thai construction expertise to the country. And surely, with Exim's financial support.

Who says he's old?

achara_d@nationgroup.com