Saturday, November 14, 2009

Thaksin wins plaudits for his model to cut poverty

14/11/2009
Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH : Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra won plaudits from local businesspeople and high-ranking state officials responsible for the economy for his model to reduce poverty in Cambodia.

Thaksin on Thursday gave a presentation about how the country could go about tackling its economic woes to some 300 businessmen, government officials and civil servants.

''After hearing his presentation, I hope he can help Cambodia a lot,'' said Nang Sothy, president of Thy Holding Group.

Thaksin's presentation was impressive. It drew on his skills and experiences as both a corporate chief and a former prime minister who helped Thailand recover from the 1997 financial crisis, Nang Sothy said.

The recent appointment of Thaksin as an adviser to the Cambodian government has caused relations with Thailand to deteriorate sharply.

''As a businessman, I don't care so much about political or diplomatic problems,'' said Nang Sothy.

''Our economy is recovering. We don't care about the problems that are happening. I hope he (Thaksin) will come back again to help us.''

In Channy, president of Acleda Bank, said Thaksin's advice was knowledgeable and practical.

Thaksin talked about how the capitalist economy would survive and encouraged the Cambodian government to focus on priority sectors, such as the promotion of tourism, In Channy said.

Thailand, Burma, Laos and Cambodia should work together more closely to promote tourism, but each country must have its own plan to develop the industry's infrastructure, Thaksin was quoted as saying.

Thaksin was a very practical man, said Chea Garoda, editor of the Koh Santepheap Daily.

''If we can do just half as much as what he was saying in there, Cambodia and Thailand would benefit quite a lot,'' said Chea Garoda.

Chea Garoda said Thaksin pledged he would return to Cambodia again at some point in the future to talk to a small group of executives from each business sector, especially about the tourism and agriculture industries.

''What he (Thaksin) said is quite genuine and we hope that we can achieve whatever he was saying,'' he said. ''And both countries (Thailand and Cambodia) can benefit from each other.''

Hang Lina, deputy director-general of the Planning Ministry's National Institute of Statistics, said Thaksin would be able to solve Cambodia's economic problems.

''I like the way he used to do in Thailand,'' she said.

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