However, they are still worried about the shortage of skilled manpower, social development and the undeveloped educational system, Van Haren told a consultative meeting of the JFCCT and the Board of Investment (BoI).

Van Haren said Thailand had better infrastructure than most Southeast Asian countries, but Malaysia and Vietnam had improved rapidly, so the government should move quickly to develop a skilled workforce and improve the education system.

If possible, he added, the Industry Ministry and the BoI should support the country's knowledge base and new technologies - not just in large companies but also in small and medium-sized companies.

Van Haren said some sections of the Foreign Business Act of 1999 needed to be resolved to conform to today's changing market mechanisms.

"Currently, Thailand has potential for investors. Hence the government should reconsider the Foreign Business Act, particularly List One and List Three, in order to stimulate the competitiveness of the economy," he said.

Deputy Industry Minister Piyabutr Cholvijarn said he agreed that some parts of the law should be resolved, but the matter had to be discussed with the Commerce Ministry before any decision was made.

Piyabutr said representatives from member countries of the JFCCT had already urged the government to improve the country's infrastructure, especially the logistics system.

He assured them that planned mega-projects would be implemented transparently.

He said the government would ask vocational colleges to train students in job-related skills with cooperation from the private sector.

"We told Peter to gather suggestions from foreign investors and send them to us. We are willing to act on anything that makes the investment climate brighter."

Chalida     Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation