Thailand to launch roadshows to restore investors’ confidence

A series of roadshows under the “Unbeatable Thailand, Unparalleled Opportunities” campaign will be first kicked off in Japan on March 6-10 by the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Ministry of Industry in order to enhance Thailand’s image as Asia’s key investment and tourist destination.Mrs. Atchaka Sibunruang, the BOI’s Secretary General, said the campaign’s first roadshow will be launched during the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s state visit to Japan. This mission, led by the prime minister, will include representatives from key government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and the Board of Investment, she added. “We already received positive feedback from the Japanese investors. More than 1,200 participants have already confirmed their participation in the investment seminar to be held Tokyo on March 7, 2012 while more than 400 persons confirmed their participation to a similar seminar in Nagoya on March 8,” said the BOI’s secretary general.The ministry and the agency will also on March 9 arrange business meetings between Thai delegates and leading Japanese companies, especially those in automobile and parts sector, namely Toshiba Corporation, Honda Motor, Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, Mitsubishi Motors, Isuzu Motors, Suzuki Motor, Bridgestone and Marubeni. Other than Japan, the government will next hold roadshows in other countries, such as South Korea and China. These roadshows will be headed by the prime minister.M.R. Pongsvas Svasti, the Minister of Industry, said the roadshows were aimed at restoring Thailand’s image as the preferred trade and investment destination, as well as strengthening investors’ confidence in Thailand. According to the Industry Ministry, it is an urgency to regain investors’ confidence over the flood-hit country where as many as a thousand entrepreneurs were inundated during the heaviest deluge last year. About 70 percent of those flood-ravaged companies belong to the Japanese investors.