Thai industries should change their attitude towards green technology in order to overcome nontariff barriers (NTB) in key export destinations, Bhichit Rattakul, former deputy minister of Science, Technology and Energy, said yesterday.
Bhichit, also a former Bangkok governor, said most Thai industries still had not adapted their production technology because of their attitude towards green technology.
"They think that adapting the new technology will be costly and hurt bottom lines," he said.
"In fact, the global market is concerned about environmental issues. Accepting only green products is now used as an NTB in some markets, particularly in the US and Europe. So if Thai industries stick with conventional production technologies, they will not be able to sell their products to those important markets," Bhichit warned.
"Also, the government is accelerat¬ing implementation of an Environment Tax Act. So if industrialists do not adapt themselves to the change, their manufacturing costs may be higher than continuing to use conventional manufacturing technology," he added.
Bhichit made his comments during his keynote speech entitled "Towards Becoming the Ecofriendly Manufacturing Hub of Asean" at the opening ceremony of Manufacturing Expo 2010, which is being held through Sunday at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec).
"Most Thai industrialists don't open their ears and eyes to new technology. They still have the old attitude that conventional technology will help lower production costs and maximise profit. In fact, they should change their atti¬tude, as Thai industries should go into the green industrialisation era," he said.
He added that because of the old attitude to the new technology, Thai industrialists lack awareness about green technology. They do not have good preparation and adaptation plans for the new technology.
The government and the industrial sector do not have any occasion to sit down and discuss the matter. Data and other information about green technology is not always uptodate.
Bhichit recommended that the state and the private sector should begin a dialogue about a national action plan to work together on green technology.
The government should establish plans for all industries, particularly small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), showing them how to adapt to the new technology.
"If Thai industries realise the importance of green technology and adopt it to their production, they can compete with overseas manufacturers on the same ground. We still are far from using new technology to reduce emissions and protect the environment. But if we start now, I believe that we will not be far from this goal," he said. Nichapa Yoswee, managing director of Reed Tradex, the organiser of Manufacturing Expo 2010, said this was the first year that the manufacturers of energy-saving and environmentally friendly machines had participated in the event. The numbers of them will tend to increase in future events, as Thai industrialists seem to have increased awareness on the matter.
About 1,300 manufacturing machine companies from 25 countries are displaying their latest technology at Manufacturing Expo 2010, with 35,000 buyers worldwide attending.