THAILAND DISAPPOINTED OVER POOR REPRESENTATION AT BUSINESS SUMMIT

From M. Saraswathi

BANGKOK, Feb 26 (Bernama) - Thailand expressed its disappointment over the
lack of leaders' representation from Asean member countries at the 2008 Asean
Business and Investment Summit here Thursday.

"It is a little disappointing that we will have very few Asean leaders
attending this (Business) Summit," Asean Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC)'s
chairman, Arin Jira said at the 2008 Asean Business and Investment Summit.

The Asean Business and Investment Summit is held every year alongside with
Asean Summit, which is taking place in Hua Hin, about 230 km away from Bangkok.

It was supposed to have been held late last year but was postponed due to
riots in Bangkok.

"I understand the difficulties in logistics (as the Business Summit is being
held at a location far from the Asean Summit) but we want the leaders to
understand that if they want the private sector to be engaging in all the
activities around the economic development, we need their support as well," said
Arin Jira.

Among those leaders who have confirmed their presence for the Business and
Investment Summit are Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime
Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, Vietnam's Deputy Finance Minister Tran Xuan Ha and
Indonesia's Minister of Trade, Mari Elka Pangestu.

ASEAN-BAC was established by the ASEAN Heads of State and Government
(HOSGs) at the 7th ASEAN Summit in November 2001 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Darussalam.

Inaugurated at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia in April 2003,
ASEAN-BAC's primary mission is to promote public-private sector partnership in
achieving the integration for the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

`ASEAN-BAC provides private sector feedback on the implementation of ASEAN
economic cooperation, and to identify priority areas for the consideration of
the ASEAN leaders.
-- BERNAMA