FTI candidates offer views on Map Ta Phut

 Three candidates - Adisak Rohitasune, senior vice president for Asian Honda Motor; Payungsak Chartsutipol, executive vice president of Siam United Steel - a joint venture of Siam Cement Group; and Suraporn Simakulthorn, president of Kulthorn Kirby - are vying for the position to lead one of the top economic organisations with members operating in 39 manufacturing sectors.

The following are views of the candidates on industrial development.

What's your proposal to the government to end environmental conflicts at Map Ta Phut and elsewhere in the Kingdom? Is it the end of industrial development?

Adisak: I believe this is not the end of industrial development but it must go along with environmental protection. In the past, the pace of industrial development was quick in terms of investment volume and variety. Environmental concerns must be emphasised more for balance. All involved must be committed to their roles and responsibilities for the environment and environmental rules and regulations.

We need greater collaboration between the public and private sectors. To allow industrial development and the environment to grow together, the many agencies involved with the issue should streamline their operations, impose appropriate environmental rules and seriously enforce the rules. They should also work with the private sector to monitor toxic standards and promote health.

Beside, the government should champion environmental concerns in the industrial sector. Private operators should be encouraged to win the ISO14000 environmental certificate or there could be a competition to find factories with outstanding environmental measures. The government should also launch a thorough education programme for local communities.

Payungsak: The government should take the lead in charting a balanced and harmonious roadmap, through clear rules and regulations and effective enforcement. The government must also ensure rights and fair promotion. For sustainability, I suggest:

1. The government must lay out clear economic, industrial and developmental as well as environmental policies which are appropriate for each area. It must lead balanced development, or the Eco Industrial Town, particularly to ensure sustainable existence of the industrial sector and community, as industrial development is necessary and must proceed in a balanced way.

2. The government should support and create a mechanism to draw participation from all involved - government agencies, the private sector, communities and non-governmental organisations - to ensure appropriate and academic pollution and health monitoring.

3. The government should integrate and reduce policy redundancy among supporting and regulatory units. Rules and regulations must be in line with the social, economic and technological conditions. The rules must be practical and strictly enforced.

4. There must be measures to promote and support the understanding of environmental management and corporate social responsibility among manufacturers. They should be encouraged to introduce clean technology, initiate social projects and provide environmentally-friendly products and services.

Regarding the Map Ta Phut case, we have been involved in plotting short- and long-term plans. Aside from promoting Map Ta Phut as the pilot Eco-Industrial Town in the long term, in the short term the government should turn this into a national policy and the prime minister must address the problem himself. Meanwhile, government units must quickly issue comprehensive guidelines under Article 67(2) of the Constitution, including the guidelines on health impact assessments, the list of projects with serious impacts on communities and the establishment of an independent agency. Meanwhile, as various factors are affecting environmental and health conditions, an appropriate academic approach should be introduced to prove there are solutions to all problems. The government must also have an impartial institution survey and evaluate the environmental and health conditions in Map Ta Phut, as well as present the information in a comprehensive and international-standard manner.

I wish all parties would fix the problem and draw appropriate solutions for the sake of all parties and the nation. This is a major issue and affects environmental understanding and the country's economic development.

Suraporn: Industrial development at Map Ta Phut or elsewhere should be controlled to prevent pollution and protect the environment. The court injunction is a critical issue and the government must address it as soon as possible before neighbouring countries take the chance to lure investment there. At present, over 70 per cent of gross domestic product comes from exports, and most is generated by the manufacturing sector. Among Asean countries, Thailand is the best location for local and foreign investors. The government thus needs to solve the case quickly to restore confidence and keep investors here, as neighbouring countries are working on this with better investment privileges.

Note: Their views on related issues will be published in subsequent reports