IN Print
Vietnamese economy poses no threat to Thailand
Hanoi ensures existence of political stability and cheap labour
* Published: 21/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: _News_
(http://www.bangkokpost.com/advance-search/?papers_sec_id=1)
The Vietnamese economy poses no immediate threat to Thailand, which has
healthy investments in that country, says the Thai ambassador in Hanoi.
Vietnam said it would put in a high-speed train, similar to the bullet
train in Japan, running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. The news excited Thai
readers but most did not realise that work on the railway won’t start until
2036, or nearly 30 years into the future.
Pisanu Chanvitan says Thailand's economy is still far more advanced than
Vietnam's.
However, the ambassador told Thai Rath newspaper, Vietnam has certain
advantages including political stability, thanks to its one-party rule and
cheap
labour.
Last year, Vietnam's economy grew 3%.
Mr Pisanu said that medical advances in Vietnam lag far behind Thailand.
For difficult cases, well-to-do patients still travel to Thailand for
treatment because Vietnam's health care expertise is lacking.
Nor was Thailand's status as the world's top rice exporter under threat
from Vietnam.
Mr Pisanu said Vietnam exported about 5 million tonnes of rice last year
while Thailand exported 8-9 million tonnes.
Thai rice is more expensive because of its higher quality especially the
world famous Hom Mali, while Vietnam exports cheaper varieties.
Vietnam can face typhoons several times a year, causing extensive damage to
rice fields.
Vietnam's rice cultivation area is similar to Thailand's, but Vietnam has a
growing population. As its population grows, Vietnam will probably export
less rice.
Vietnam's rulers like to talk about their plans for the economy, but
sometimes these projects can be many years off.
Vietnam said it would put in a high-speed train, similar to the bullet
train in Japan, running from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
The news excited Thai readers but most did not realise that work on the
railway won't start until 2036, or nearly 30 years into the future.
In 1990, Vietnam began to open the country to foreign direct investment,
creating special industrial zones and expanding the economic zone in Ho Chi
Minh City.
Thailand is ranked 9th among foreign investors in Vietnam. Investment is
concentrated in agri-business, cement, real estate, and motorcycle parts.
Mr Pisanu said Thailand exported more than 10,000 tonnes of fruit to
Vietnam last year, including longan, mangosteen, durian and mango.
Food processing including canned fish is another bright prospect for Thai
exporters. Several Thai canneries have set up operations in Vietnam and are
doing good business.
Engineer is a
'political victim'
Sivarak Chutipong, 31, the Thai engineer arrested in Cambodia on a spying
charge, is being used as a pawn in the diplomatic dispute between Thailand
and Cambodia, argues a Matichon newspaper writer.
Sivarak worked for Cambodia Air Traffic Services, a subsidiary of
Thailand's Samart Telecom.
He was arrested last week on a spying charge, after he allegedly
transmitted the flight schedule of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra
and
Cambodia's premier Hun Sen to Thailand.
The newspaper argues the engineer was a victim of the conflicts between
Thailand and Cambodia concerning Hun Sen's appointment of Thaksin as economic
adviser.
If Sivarak is found guilty by a Cambodian court, he could be jailed for
7-10 years and/or fined 50,000-250,000 baht.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thaksin's flight schedule was
not secret information and Thailand already knew Thaksin's likely flight
movements.
Suthep argued that Cambodian authorities may have misunderstood the
intention of the government, which never intended to inflict any harm.
Yet the Matichon writer was not satisfied with explanations offered by the
Thai Foreign Ministry and Samart Telecom in defence of Sivarak.
The government, the writer said, should protect Sivarak's honour and tell
international observers that Cambodia's allegations are trumped up.
Miscellany
Cambodia has expelled all Thai staff from Cambodia Air Traffic Services
after a Thai engineer on staff was charged with spying.
Phnom Penh has filed national security charges of stealing classified
information against engineer Sivarak Chutipong.
Cambodia has now ordered all Thai nationals working for CATS to leave the
company and prohibited them from re-entering until the legal proceedings
against Mr Sivarak are completed, Samart Corporation Plc president Watchai
Wilailuck said.
CATS, a fully owned subsidiary of Bangkok-based Samart, holds a concession
to run air traffic control services in Cambodia.
The firm employs nine Thai officials at Cambodian airport, in management or
senior engineering positions. About 200 other staff are Cambodians.
Mr Watchai was told Cambodian authorities would send their own people to
run the company.
"We need to follow Cambodia's order and are asking the Thai government to
negotiate with Cambodia.
'We have nothing to do with their diplomatic dispute, but it is affecting
our business," Mr Watchai said.
Thailand and Cambodia are signatories to an investment protection
agreement, to protect each other's private businesses.
About the author
Writer: _Kamol Hengkietisak_ (mailto:[email protected])
Position: Reporter
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