The Nation
Thai businessmen with a presence in Cambodia are positive that the Thai-Cambodian conflict will not adversely affect their businesses.
Between August 1994 and June 2009, Thai companies have invested US$226.59 million (Bt7.57 billion) on 81 projects in Cambodia, according to Phnom Penh's Office of Trade Development.
According to Deputy Commerce Ministry Alongkorn Ponlaboot, there are four major pending projects worth $30.67 million, including a sugar-cane plantation for the Thai Beverage Group; a logistics system and port for Khon Kaen Sugar Industry; and the Krungthep Hospital. The bilateral trade, according to the Commerce Ministry, is worth $2.13 billion per annum, with Thailand exporting $2.04 billion and importing goods worth $90 million.
Alongkorn said the conflict would be affecting the trade and investment directly, though the exact damage is still to be determined. Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai is due to ask Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva if Thai commercial consultants in Phnom Penh should also be recalled.
Still, despite Alongkorn's worries, most Thai businessmen believe their interests in Cambodia will remain intact.
Watchai Vilailuck, president of Samart, said he did not think the conflict would affect the company's businesses in the neighbouring country. Samart has been operating air-traffic control services in Cambodia for more than 18 years now.
Tanyapas Chuaychoo, corporate communications manager of Thaicom, said his company and its subsidiary in Cambodia were in no way related to any political issues.
"We will continue running our business in Cambodia as usual," she added.
CMO Group's chief executive director Sermkhun Kunawong noted that the conflict should affect only Thai companies that have contracts with the Cambodian government, but not events held privately to boost tourism. His company had earlier won a contract to organise a light-and-sound show at Angkor Wat. CMO Group had earlier shut down its Cambodian subsidiary and now operates directly from Thailand.
"I don't think the situation will worsen, because the leaders should put mutual benefits above anything else. Cambodia is a major market for Thai products, while Thailand is the main gateway for the Cambodian tourism industry," Sermkhun said.
As of yesterday, Bangkok Airways had not introduced any changes to its services to and from Thailand to Cambodia. Its three daily flights to Phnom Penh and six daily flights to Siem Reap were continuing as usual, the airline's spokesperson said, adding that the Cambodian government had sought to discuss the issue with Thai businessmen.
According to the Phnom Penh trade office, there are eight Thai hotels are operating in the country including the Phokeethra Resort & Spa and Royal Angkor, both owned by the Thai Nakorn Pattana Group - the biggest Thai hospitality investor in Cambodia. The Phokeethra hotel was built to replace one that burned down in 2003.
Sanan Angubolkul, chairman and president of Srithai Superware, said business should continue as usual provided Thai businesses offer good-quality products at reasonable prices, because then Cambodia would have no reason to import goods from other countries. Srithai exports a small percentage of its products to Cambodia.
According to Mitr Phol Group's chairman Isara Vongkusolkit, the group has delayed its investment in Cambodia not just because of the conflict but also because it is focusing more on Laos. The group had earlier conducted a test on sugar plantations in Cambodia.
CMO Group's Sermkhunand Kantana Group executive chairman Jaruek Kaljaruek supported the Thai government's reaction, saying that Cambodia should not have given fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra the job of being an economic adviser.
"Hun Sen's motives are in question. Personally, I see this move as inappropriate," Jaruek said, noting that his businesses in Cambodia, involving a TV station and telecom infrastructure investment, were still operating as usual. He explained that though the conflict was affecting government-to-government ties, it had yet to hit private investment in the country.
Between August 1994 and June 2009, Thai companies have invested US$226.59 million (Bt7.57 billion) on 81 projects in Cambodia, according to Phnom Penh's Office of Trade Development.
According to Deputy Commerce Ministry Alongkorn Ponlaboot, there are four major pending projects worth $30.67 million, including a sugar-cane plantation for the Thai Beverage Group; a logistics system and port for Khon Kaen Sugar Industry; and the Krungthep Hospital. The bilateral trade, according to the Commerce Ministry, is worth $2.13 billion per annum, with Thailand exporting $2.04 billion and importing goods worth $90 million.
Alongkorn said the conflict would be affecting the trade and investment directly, though the exact damage is still to be determined. Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai is due to ask Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva if Thai commercial consultants in Phnom Penh should also be recalled.
Still, despite Alongkorn's worries, most Thai businessmen believe their interests in Cambodia will remain intact.
Watchai Vilailuck, president of Samart, said he did not think the conflict would affect the company's businesses in the neighbouring country. Samart has been operating air-traffic control services in Cambodia for more than 18 years now.
Tanyapas Chuaychoo, corporate communications manager of Thaicom, said his company and its subsidiary in Cambodia were in no way related to any political issues.
"We will continue running our business in Cambodia as usual," she added.
CMO Group's chief executive director Sermkhun Kunawong noted that the conflict should affect only Thai companies that have contracts with the Cambodian government, but not events held privately to boost tourism. His company had earlier won a contract to organise a light-and-sound show at Angkor Wat. CMO Group had earlier shut down its Cambodian subsidiary and now operates directly from Thailand.
"I don't think the situation will worsen, because the leaders should put mutual benefits above anything else. Cambodia is a major market for Thai products, while Thailand is the main gateway for the Cambodian tourism industry," Sermkhun said.
As of yesterday, Bangkok Airways had not introduced any changes to its services to and from Thailand to Cambodia. Its three daily flights to Phnom Penh and six daily flights to Siem Reap were continuing as usual, the airline's spokesperson said, adding that the Cambodian government had sought to discuss the issue with Thai businessmen.
According to the Phnom Penh trade office, there are eight Thai hotels are operating in the country including the Phokeethra Resort & Spa and Royal Angkor, both owned by the Thai Nakorn Pattana Group - the biggest Thai hospitality investor in Cambodia. The Phokeethra hotel was built to replace one that burned down in 2003.
Sanan Angubolkul, chairman and president of Srithai Superware, said business should continue as usual provided Thai businesses offer good-quality products at reasonable prices, because then Cambodia would have no reason to import goods from other countries. Srithai exports a small percentage of its products to Cambodia.
According to Mitr Phol Group's chairman Isara Vongkusolkit, the group has delayed its investment in Cambodia not just because of the conflict but also because it is focusing more on Laos. The group had earlier conducted a test on sugar plantations in Cambodia.
CMO Group's Sermkhunand Kantana Group executive chairman Jaruek Kaljaruek supported the Thai government's reaction, saying that Cambodia should not have given fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra the job of being an economic adviser.
"Hun Sen's motives are in question. Personally, I see this move as inappropriate," Jaruek said, noting that his businesses in Cambodia, involving a TV station and telecom infrastructure investment, were still operating as usual. He explained that though the conflict was affecting government-to-government ties, it had yet to hit private investment in the country.
4 comments:
Thailand really Fuck up by themselves! what ta fuck are they doing? hurts or kill their own people more?? especially those poor middle class people called "Red Shirt" for Chakri family, they really don't give a shit right? because they are multi-millionaire people...Red Shirts people must kick Abhisit Govt out of Bangkok in 24 hours....
L'ex Cdt KR Hun Sen est entrain de tomber Dans le piège thailando-vietnamien. On va voir.
Le peuple khmer va souffrir.
Le Cambodge Sérums La Proie des Viets et des haies.
Deputé PPC
Without Khmers people buying their products, Thais people are dying first...Stupid Abhisit Govt! dumb! dumb! dumb! Abhisit! Khmer will not die without Fucken Thailand closing their PieHole....
if you think that Thailand gonna suffer and die from Khmers people not buying their products. You are wrong, you stupid dumb fuck, stop posting this stupid comment which disgrace the knowledge of Khmer people to the world.
There are more than hundred of countries that importing products from Thailand not only Cambodia... YOU STUPID..
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