President and CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire said the target was in line with its global plan to double its turnover worldwide this year to US$17 billion (Bt606 billion).

Schneider has a plant in the Bang Pu area of Samut Prakan province, with half of its production exported. Domestic sales last year were expected to reach Bt5 billion.

Tricoire said the New Year's Eve bombings would affect local people, but the company itself was not too concerned, because it ran its business based on a long-term plan rather than quarter by quarter.

It will continue to invest in Thailand in terms of technology and human resources. Tricoire, however, did not reveal the exact investment figure, saying that it depended on opportunities. He said Schneider might make an acquisition here if a chance appeared.

The company's latest investment includes a new Bt139-million production line to manufacture motor circuit-breakers that started operating last week.

Since New Year's Eve, some American and German companies have halted plans to invest in Thailand, while some Japanese firms are adopting a wait-and-see approach.

Vibul Kromdith, senior director for marketing and sales at Amata, also recently said his company had lost customers from the US and Germany who planned to invest in more than 100 rai of land each.

Currently, 80 per cent of Schneider's sales come from its clients in private construction, partly funded by foreign direct investment, with 20 per cent of sales coming from the public sector.

Tricoire said Thailand still had good business potential in the long term, due to the economic surge of the past few years. He said foreigners would mostly consider long-term benefits rather than short-term effects.

John Griffiths, Schneider's country director for Thailand and Laos, said the company must always be flexible, adaptable and move fast to tackle any unexpected situations.

Schneider has been operating in Thailand for more than 30 years, selling electrical-distribution products to the construction sector, as well as selling automation equipment.

Tricoire said 65 per cent of Schneider's sales came from electrical distribution and the rest from industrial, building and home automation. This year, the company plans to focus more on the automation sector and providing solutions for big buildings and plants.

He said Thailand was Schneider's biggest market in Southeast Asia, generating one-third of total regional sales. Twenty per cent of its total global sales are generated in Asia.

Tricoire expects rapid economic growth in regions like Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to contribute 30 per cent to its overall sales, up from 15 per cent.

Globally, 60 per cent of its sales are generated by performance within the company and the rest from acquisitions. Last year, it acquired six companies, including American Power Conversion in the US and the Delixi Group in China.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation