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Lee side of Thaksin exposed PRIME Minister Thaksin Shinawatra`s management style is reminiscent of Singapore`s elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew - and that`s a compliment, according to Saha Group chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana. Boonsithi, one of 10 advisers to Finance Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, gives a high score to Thaksin for his merchant-minded, results-oriented approach. "I think Thaksin`s style is very similar to Singapore`s former prime minister Lee," Boonsithi said yesterday. Like Thaksin, he said, Lee "applied pragmatic solutions and quick decision-making to lead Singapore out of severe economic problems 30 years ago". Thaksin has won the praise of the local business community because, unlike his predecessors, he relies on a merchant`s way of thinking to formulate the government`s policy. "Thailand needs to stimulate our economy as the first priority. And all of the Thaksin government`s campaigns - from debt suspension for the farmers to the Bt1-million village fund - are aimed at stimulating the economy at the grass-roots level by increasing the spending power of consumers," said Boonsithi. He added that Thaksin has applied good marketing ideas to his campaigns to stimulate the economy. "I`m quite confident that the Bt1-million village fund has been designed to stimulate the domestic economy. This programme is much better than the Miyazawa Fund, which literally handed money to the people through the former government without achieving any clear results," said Boonsithi. He added that while the former government used traditional means to solve economic problems, Thailand needs newer, more innovative solutions to tackle problems and overcome the cycle of economic difficulty. He said that Thailand needs to take priority by stimulating the economy rather than over-concerning itself with inflation, "With the current situation of only a 1-to-2 per cent interest rate, I see no way that inflation could become a threat," said Boonsithi. He said the Saha Group, which is a local leading consumer product conglomerate, recorded a slight business growth in the first two months of this year, compared with the same period last year, particularly in food products and fashion apparel. The group is not feeling the heat from the economic lowdown in the United States. "Thaksin is still a young man and very serious about his job. He also knows what the priorities are in solving the country`s economic problems," said Boonsithi. He added Thailand needs to focus on domestic solutions and stand on its own rather than depending on other countries. This would increase the country`s capability to withstand any negative impacts from external economic developments. "The key thing to consider is how the country can create good domestic cash flow and build spending power to the main people, particularly the farmers," said Boonsithi. Finance Minister Somkid, who used to work under the Saha Group, is taking Boonsithi`s advice on measures to revive business from retailer`s point of view. Dhanin Chearavanont, chief of the CP Group, has been enlisted to provide the wholesalers` viewpoint. BY KWANCHAI RUNGFAPAISARN The Nation - 15.3.01 - |
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| aus der Diskussion: | Waste or make money in Thailand |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | BodyG (14.03.01 19:55:34) |
| Beitrag: | 531 von 611 (ID:3101710) |
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