"Tony Blair" says Thailand will likely be the most investment attraction in Southeast Asian

BANGKOK, January 17 (TNA) - Visiting former British prime miniser Tony Blair says that Thailand has potential to be the best investment destination in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the future. When delivering a speech on risks and opportunities in the globalization at the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Forum held at Muang Thong Thani in the outskirts of Bangkok this morning, Blair told the audience what significantly makes him confident that the Thai economy will likely be the most attractive investment destination in the 10-member ASEAN bloc is that Thai people respect foreign investors. Blair suggested that the Thai government keep on promoting businesses and foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country; while maintaining justice at the same time and adjusting public services and welfare to keep pace with regional and global changes. Blair called on national unity and further human resource development in Thailand through proper education and fair wages, suggesting as well that Thai people learn how to live with people of different cultures in the region, in preparation for the formation of the ASEAN Single Community by 2015 with increasing cross-border migration. The former British premier pointed out that the present globalization has brought about fiercer competitions and rapid changes with more "transnational" impacts which are great challenges for global governments, referring to the ongoing debt crisis in Europe that has affected the entire world economy. The former British premier expressed his confidence in the future of Thailand despite a worst flooding crisis in the country late last year. The CEO Forum, organised as part of the BOI Fair 2011, from January 5-20, was inaugurated by Thai Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul, who said at its opening that Thailand is developing national competitiveness, technologies, human resources and investment projects to be more environmentally friendly in order to become an advance investment hub in Asia, assuring that Thailand will have effective flood prevention measures in due course. (TNA)