Pongsak will be watched closely in the ‘hot seat’

Published on August 04, 2005 - All eyes are on the new Cabinet to see how it goes about restoring confidence in the economy, which has been hit hard by higher oil prices, rising inflation and the unrest in the South.

And among the most closely watched of the new members will be Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, who is responsible for expediting the completion of the scandal-plagued new airport and expanding the mass transit system. The government plans to invest Bt1.7 trillion in mega-projects over the next 5 years in order to revive domestic investment.

“I am not worried about my new role at the Transport Ministry, because my background is in engineering,” he said.

He also said he would disclose details regarding the contract for the CTX bomb-detection machines at the new airport. “If Khun Suriya [Jungrungreangkit] assigns me to disclose the contract, I am willing to do so,” he said.

In terms of tourism, the government has set a target of 12.4 million visitors this year and 20 million for each of the next three to four years. To reach these goals, the industry needs more consistency in long-term policies and promotions, say industry insiders.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont, who was shifted from the Social Development and Human Securities Ministry to replace Somsak Thepsuthin, is the sixth appointee to the post in the past four and a half years. Adisai Bodharamik was the first to get the post during Thaksin Shinawatra’s tenure. It then repeatedly switched hands between Somsak and Sontaya Kunplome.

Wichit Na Ranong, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, asked for consistency in policy.

He said the industry did not necessarily need a Cabinet member with expertise in tourism, but one who could help it move forward.

“The most important thing that he [Pracha] should focus on is cooperating with all of the tourism bodies,” Wichit said.

Anek Srishevachart, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said Pracha could handle the tourism sector because he had been involved in business for a long time. He added the industry needed a leader who could contribute to activities that would attract visitors.

Anek said the tourism minister should stay in the post for at least three years, allowing him to follow through on policies and solve problems.

He called on the minister to help Andaman-coast tourism – struggling since the December 26 tsunami – by restoring the environment, reopening beaches and working with the private sector to renovate resorts and prepare services and products.

The president of the Domestic Travel Association, Musalin Sukapattanarakul, said she would ask Pracha to work with the private sector to attract tourists and encourage development.

Before leaving the ministry yesterday, Somsak said he would pass several projects on to Pracha, including the launch of Arabian Street on Soi Nana in Bangkok.

Other goals are to develop the Emerald Triangle Project, focused on the shared border area with Laos and Cambodia, and introduce a new sea route between Cambodia’s Chao Island, Vietnam’s Fuko Island and Thailand’s Koh Chang.

At the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry, Sora-at Klinpratoom replaces Suwit Khunkitti.

The chief commercial officer of Total Access Communications (DTAC), Thana Tienachariya, said that he did not think the switch would affect the telecom industry.

“We already have the National Telecommunications Commission to oversee us. And we can see that the ICT ministry is already focusing on promoting e-government projects, not on regulating the telecom industry,” he added.

Nart Liewcharoen, chief executive of major system integrator CDG, said he believed Sora-at has management skills that could benefit the IT industry.

He said he hoped the new ICT minister would continue to promote technology at state agencies.

As deputy prime minister and newly appointed commerce minister, Somkid Jatusripitak, has been moved to control the Kingdom’s main economic engine.

His top priority is to curb the country’s trade deficit and inflation by boosting exports through the completion of free trade agreements with key trading partners such as the United States.

Boosting exports is thought to be the only way to overcome the trade deficit, which totalled US$8.15 billion (Bt336 billion) during the first half of this year.

In addition, Somkid is likely to head the planned ministry for international trade and industry. The ministry, the first of its kind for the Kingdom, is intended to become one of the most important agencies for boosting manufacturing and exports.

Known as a marketing man, Somkid will have to draw on his experience to draw up new strategies for the ministry’s Export Promotion Department in order to achieve the government’s 20-per-cent export growth projection.

Eyes are also on Somkid to see how he can reduce energy-import expenses.

Somkid has expressed enthusiasm about leading the Commerce Ministry, rather than the Finance Ministry, because the challenges match well with his marketing degrees.

In particular, Somkid said he was keen on developing economic and social ties with China to facilitate trade and investment.

Somkid believes that market access to China will rapidly boost Thailand’s exports.

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