Thumbs down for new economic team

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's economic team has failed to inspire business and industrial leaders at this critical juncture.

Pornsilp Patcharintanakul, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, said yesterday he was not impressed with the line-up, as most new appointments for economic portfolios were probably worse than those in the previous Samak Cabinet.

In the Somchai administration, Suchart Thadathamrongvech, a former university lecturer, is finance minister, while Chaiya Sasomsap and Santi Prompat remain commerce and transport ministers, respectively.

Pracha Promnok, a former police chief, is industry minister, while Olarn Chaipravat, an economist, has become deputy premier overseeing the Finance Ministry.

Somchai admitted that sceptics had a point, accepting that his Cabinet is far from perfect and certain ministers are "mismatched".

However, the new Cabinet members should be given an opportunity to work and prove themselves, he said.

Twatchai Yongkittikul, secretary-general of the Thai Bankers' Association, said the economic ministers would have to show they deserved their assignments by steering the economy out of trouble.

"With this list of names for economic ministries, there is neither public applause nor admiration. Here comes the last chance to demonstrate their worth and impress the public," he said.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said he was unhappy with the new economic ministers because most of them are incompetent politicians.

"We [businessmen] will have to work harder to boost business activities, as these ministers seem to have little or no understanding of how to facilitate trade and industry," he said.

Pornsilp said most of the economic ministers were less knowledgeable than their predecessors, with the worst being Pracha as industry minister because he is a former chief of police with no background in trade and economic affairs.

Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said he was not sure if Weerasak Kowsurat, the tourism minister, could raise prospects for the industry.

The global economic slowdown and domestic political instability are key factors weighing on tourism so the government needs to work hard in partnership with the private sector, he said.

Dusit Nontanakorn, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade, said the government must urgently show teamwork to drive the economy forward.

The new ministers should be given time to work before there is any performance appraisal, he said. However, the new government will find it difficult to revive people's confidence since the country is facing both political instability at home and an economic slowdown in its partners abroad.

Anusorn Sangnimnuan, president of Bangchak Petroleum, said Wannarat Charnnukul, the new energy minister, should keep promoting alternative fuels, but gasohol E10 and E20 should be the focus while E85 should be an option.

The new minister was also urged to hike the price of liquefied petroleum gas and proceed with the 15-year alternative-energy master plan, including the proposed nuclear power plant, he said.