Thailand back in business, says TCEB chief

A strong turnout at the upcoming "BoI CEO Forum" and the initial success of the "BoI Fair 2012" demonstrate that Thailand is back in business, said Akapol Sorasuchart, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

In a joint press conference yesterday with Atchaka Sibunruang, secretary-general of the Board of Investment, he said there was no better way of showing the country's return to normalcy after the floods than the holding of such a big event.

"You get what you see," he added.

Akapol said 20,000 people had visited the TCEB's World Expo 2020 Pavilion since the start of the BoI Fair on January 5.

Moreover, strong participation at the BoI CEO Forum, which takes place on January 16, will have positive impacts beyond the forum itself, he said.

The event - which the TCEB teamed up with the BoI to organise, as well as the first meeting of BoI honorary investment advisers - will see the participation of leading international figures, including former British prime minister Tony Blair, United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (Unctad) secretary-general Supachai Panitchapakdi and Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan.

The forum has also received support from leading companies, including B Grimm, BEC Tero and Gulf SP.

Atchaka said 16 of the 34 appointed international honorary advisers had confirmed their participation. They are leading global CEOs who are making a special trip to Bangkok for this first meeting of advisers.

Although the numbers are down from the original acceptances lodged before the floods, their presence is still significant, she added.

She said the BoI would be presenting to the advisers the five-year strategic investment promotion plan for Thailand. The meeting will be chaired by Unctad chief Supachai in his capacity as head of the UN Trade and Development Commission.

"With the BoI Fair, we also want to demonstrate to the international CEOs coming to the HIA [honorary investment advisers] and CEO Forum that Thailand has made great advances in the past decades with increased capabilities in domestic production. It is an opportunity to show the world our capabilities," she said.

Akapol underscored the Kingdom's capability and confidence in moving forward, which he said was capped with the country's bid to host the 2020 World Expo in competition with four other nations.

The TCEB's "Believe in Thailand" campaign and World Expo 2020 Pavilion at the BoI Fair are a demonstration of the country's history of internationalisation since ancient times, he added.

The BoI Fair runs until January 20, while the CEO Forum will be highlighted by a gala dinner for participants, to be hosted by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House.