UTCC: SMEs not ready for AEC

Published: 25 Sep 2012 at 16.33
Online news: News

At least 60% of the 2.9 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand are not ready for the debut of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, according to survey results released on Tuesday by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Aat Pisanwanich, director of the International Trade Studies Centre at the university, said SMEs that were not ready for the AEC were largely in the leather, furniture, rice, ceramic and rubber industries.

He said 42.4% of the unready SMEs said they were waiting for a clear-cut assistance framework from the government, 30% did not have any information on the AEC, 18.5% said they did not have the money to adjust their business and 9.3% said they were small manufacturers and could not adjust in time and wanted the government to set up an SME fund to directly support them.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

bluebottle
Post : 1,463
Send message

Discussion 5 : 25 Sep 2012 at 22.425
Post this to my Facebook
Any good news this week please let me know. The EU is about to disappear up its own jaxie and these countries will not take the heed. Politicians playing with fire.From the survey it seems only large exporters as interested.
Like dislike 2 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
soltair
Post : 799
Send message

Discussion 4 : 25 Sep 2012 at 19.534
Post this to my Facebook
jwatch #2 is spot on. Lately I have some dealings with a smaller Thai bank and they will be in shock when the competition will come from other Asean banks. As usual they are totally oblivious and dream they are the center of the universe.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
khunbj
Post : 1,123
Send message

Discussion 3 : 25 Sep 2012 at 19.053
Post this to my Facebook
The big corporations such as PTT, SCC, SCG, CP etc etc are already operating internationally and will have no problem adapting to AEC, if there are SME's that are not ready or don't even know about AEC, then FTI (federation of Thai Industry) and FSA (Franchise and Thai SME's business organization) have not done a proper job in informing their members. However there is a chance that many of these unprepared SMEs are non members and have no interest in adjusting.
The latest news I believe was that the start of AEC was postponed from jan 2015 till end of 2015 because of the member states were not ready, and who knows , maybe it will be postponed again...(: would not bet against it.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
jwatch
Post : 697
Send message

Discussion 2 : 25 Sep 2012 at 16.552
Post this to my Facebook
I doubt that anyone in Thailand is ready for AEC 2015
Like dislike 11 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
watchdog
Post : 249
Send message

Discussion 1 : 25 Sep 2012 at 16.511
Post this to my Facebook
Yeah right. And then as 2016 approaches postpone it for another year. Thailand is already behind the curve with its restrictive Foreign Business Act, antiquated work permit laws (that make it a criminal offense, subject to five years imprisonment, for a foreigner to even a one hour business meeting with a work permit), customs problem (the WTO case that Thailand lost agains the Philippines which never gets reported), etc. Times are changing. If Thailand does not change, it will be left behind and its people - except for a few vested interests that benefit from protectionism - will suffer.
Like dislike 21 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment

UTCC: SMEs not ready for AEC | Bangkok Post: business