Calling for Interests on new EABC Advocacy Working Group/Sub-Working Groups

EABC Working Groups serve as a forum for discussing common issues as well as for taking initiative and action with the aim “to interact as the European business voice towards development of a favorable business climate to improve investment and market opportunities of European companies in Thailand and to promote Thailand and ASEAN as high-potential trade and investment markets for European businesses”.

With existing nine advocacy working groups, we are thus pleased to inform that EABC has been now calling for interests and express to participate into our newly established working group and sub-working groups as follow:

• Working Group on Infrastructure – Road & Rail

With regard to policy announcement in December 2013, the Royal Thai Government has undertaken the development plan initiative for national infrastructure in transportation and logistics aiming to support integration of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. It is also seen as strategic plan to strengthen national competitive advantage and overseas investment. The establishment of the EABC Working Group on Infrastructure will serve as a forum for discussing common issues highlighted onto key development areas and business opportunities for Road & Rail sectors. This is to provide the platform for European businesses community to deliver policy suggestion and engage with Royal Thai Government and respective authorities to strengthen business atmosphere for European companies/investors. EABC is thus calling for company representative(s) with interest to take part in this newly established working group.

• Sub-Working Group on Labor & Employment

Under the Cross Sectoral Issues Working Group, ‘Labor and employment’ is playing an important issue across various industrial sectors. As indicated from the EABC 2013 HR and Labor Planning Survey, Thailand is encouraged to address the difficulty in obtaining working permits and visas due to lengthy procedure, recognition of employees ‘qualifications, and lack of transparency in regulations at various administrative levels. This sub-working group is thus spanned out to strategically strengthen advocacy activities towards the highlighted issue. Policy suggestions will thus be part of targeted outcome delivered by engaging with relevant Thai Authorities through access of high-level dialogue platform EABC could effectively provide and facilitate. This aims to ease restrictions and facilitate the free movement and recruitment of expatriate skilled and unskilled workers which duly correspond to Thailand’s economic development and business need.

• Sub-Working Group on Law, Custom and Tax

Thailand custom has identified in lack of transparency, fairness, prompt judicial review etc. which has deemed negatively affect Thailand import and export. Tax structure has also viewed as lack of legal compliance and definition clarity. Together with other significant legal issues in Thailand, ‘Law, Custom and Tax’ are thus formed as a sub-working group under the Cross Sectoral Issues Working group to discuss and represent European business community in Thailand to further engage with the Royal Thai Government enhancing Thailand economic and competitiveness.

Any of these newly established working group/sub-working groups interested you? Please email to [email protected] within Friday 14 March 2014 at COB indicating which of these group(s) you would like to take part/contribute. We will also be highly appreciated if you could extend us key issues/obstacles you have been facing or want to address.

For more information please contact our Policy Officer, Khun Amara (Nacky) at [email protected]. or call +66 2670 0624.