SMEs lack of AEC insight

BANGKOK, 24 November 2009 (NNT) – A survey by the Center for International Trade Studies (CITS) showed that almost 90% of nationwide entrepreneurs have insufficient understanding of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) scheduled to fully operate in the next 5 years.

The CITS, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, surveyed 180 members of provincial Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) about exposure of information and understanding of the AEC a month ago. The members represent perception of Thai entrepreneurs throughout the country.

The survey indicates that despite 83.2% of Thai businesspeople recognizing the AEC’s establishment, 88.9% of them do not understand how the AEC operate and could contribute to their enterprises.

It is also reported that 92% of the members consider information providing from the public sector too infrequent with 46.5% researching by themselves. The survey suggests that the government should change how to do public relations with more easily understandable content and less technical terms. The members prefer TV as main media since it reach most people.

The CITS’s director Asst Dr Aat Pisanwanich stated that it was comprehensible that people would lack the understanding since there were 176 subjects under the AEC’s blueprint.

However, Dr Aat urged the government to play an active role in delivering information directly to relevant stakeholders such as farmers or service operators.

“If we cannot boost up the people’s understanding, Thailand will surely lose to other countries in any terms after the AEC begin its operation. This should be considered a national agenda”, Dr Aat said.

Dr Aat said that the members wanted to know how they would be influenced after 2015 and how to cooperate with the public sector.

Meanwhie, Mr Pongsak Assakul, vice chairman of the TCC, said that he was surprised with the figure and concerned by running out of time.

“There are just only 5 years left. From now on, the TCC have to cooperate with government to provide enough information to the public. It is not time to blame anyone but preparing for any future trends and changes”, Mr Pongsak said.

The annual national meeting of the TCC to be held from Nov 27 to 29 in Chiang Mai will be used as a tool to improve the member’s understanding.

The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, would share the public with the strategies of 6 agricultural products – rice, palm oil, coffee bean, corn, soy bean and cassava – and 3 service businesses – logistics, tourism and ICT. The strategies are regarded as a private sector-version blueprint for the AEC.