PM Yingluck Outlines Govt Policies For AEC

    (16 September) Prime
    Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today gave a keynote speech at the opening of the “Path for Thailand
    toward ASEAN Community” exhibition in Bangkok, saying in parts that the government must re-adjust
    policy to welcome the change, and should not treat the integration as a threat.

    According to
    the Prime Minister, Thailand must develop new strategies, particularly by public sectors, to create
    more competitiveness in the region and improve the standard of living in Thailand.

    By
    creating competitiveness in the region, Ms. Yingluck suggested that Thai’s public sector should
    readjust regulations to support Human Rights and ease trade protectionism.

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    The country also
    needs to rebalance their government public services to be more efficient and effective, in order to
    develop the standard of living in Thailand Ms. Yingluck is quoted as saying.

    The Prime
    Minister also said that the wobbling global economy may become a challenge to the country. The US
    Quantitative Easing policy had strengthened national currency, due to large capital inflow into the
    country. However, the situation has worsened the national export sector, which accounted up to 60%
    of national GDP.

    She stressed that Thailand should be ready for the economic fluctuation,
    both in domestic, regional and international stages.

    The private sector will also need to
    adjust their policy and improve their competitiveness through providing a better quality of goods,
    Ms. Yingluck said.

    She also suggested that the country should rely more on green
    energy.

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    Apart from the economic fluctuation, Ms. Yingluck noted, the nation is also facing a
    lack of capable workforce, as the elderly population is expected to increase from 14% in 2013, to
    27% in 2025.

    At the end of her speech, the Prime Minister added that in order to be
    competitive in meeting the new challenge, and to live together peacefully, we must integrate our
    social and cultural aspects.

    Thai people must also develop English skill, as the language
    becoming more important as the media to communicate within the region, she added.