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JBIC still committed to Thailand |
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The Japan Bank for International Cooperation yesterday restated its support for Japanese firms wishing to expand their investment in the Thai industrial and SME sectors, despite the domestic political turmoil and sluggish economy. "The JBIC is not worried about the political instability, as long as our policies remain attractive and unchanged," Industry Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan told the press after meeting Takaya Naito, JBIC's resident executive director for Asia and Oceania, at the ministry yesterday. Generally, the JBIC is interested in boosting investment here in the steel, automotive and petrochemical industries. Mingkwan said the bank had also shown interest in investing in banks and funds, as well as in providing financial support to improve the Kingdom's logistics system and invest in the Southern Seaboard. "We had too short a time to talk in detail today. However, we will meet up with the JBIC again in a bid to specify which industries they are interested in," he said. An Industry Ministry source said it was significant that the JBIC was talking about investment in the Southern Seaboard and in steel smelters. "Japan is interested in making Thailand a production hub outside the country in order to reduce production costs and boost its competitiveness in the global market. Therefore, steel blast furnaces will be another major factor in strengthen its presence in the automotive and other steel-related industries both domestically and abroad," the source said. Meanwhile, executives from auto-makers yesterday took turns yesterday to explain the overall picture of the automotive industry and their corporate policies to Mingkwan. |
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The Nation, 22.08.2008 |
