Barbara Ellington, Acting Lifestyle Editor
Members of the Jamaican Trade Mission to Thailand (from left): David Rickha, Captain David McRae, Thalia Lyn, Stephen Chang and Anthony Chang at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Thailand, last week. - PHOTOS BY BARBARA ELLINGTON
BANGKOK, Thailand:
LAST WEEK a group of Jamaican businessmen and women visited Thailand as part of a delegation led by Thalia Lyn, Honorary Consul General to that country. While there, they met with suppliers, visited trade fairs, toured factories and explored joint venture and other business opportunities with their Thai counterparts.
The group comprised: Anthony Chang, managing director of T. Geddes Grant; Stephen Chang, managing director of ATL Industrial Group, who also represented Sandals Resorts International; Captain David McRae, managing director of Patta Kake Bakers Limited and deputy Honorary Consul General to Thailand; Neville Ledgister, general manager of Lasco; Patrick Lawrence, group managing director of Lasco; Charleene Sleem of Satisfaction Garments Limited and David Rickham of the Tiger Group Limited.
The Gleaner asked the group to say what was the purpose of their trip; share their impressions of Thailand from the perspective of someone interested in doing business with that country and give one lesson that Jamaica can learn from Thailand.
These are their views.
THALIA LYN:
Heading a trade delegation to Bangkok has not been a piece of cake, or in my case a piece of chicken. But Pongehaval Sukijavanich of the Department of Export Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Vasin Thammavasi, our liaison officer from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have not stopped smiling since we arrived.
Landing right next to a golf course and in sweltering heat, motorcyclists criss-crossing every lane and numerous traffic jams see no honking of horns or drivers in rage. Everyone is respectful, calm and polite - especially to each other.
There is no garbage anywhere and no demarcation between wealth and poverty in Bangkok. Gleaming skyscrapers, ornate Buddhist temples tower above shacks and the hustle and bustle is all-encompassing. Everyone is busy, busy.
While there is not a feeling of great prosperity, the economy seems to be on the rise and there must be an entrepreneurial spirit that keeps unemployment figures low and loads of freshly produced food the tables.
Thailand lifted itself out of poverty and embarked on a strategy of restructuring that has obviously worked. The country suffered the devastation of a tsunami nine months ago but the programme of recovery is working, as seen by the hundreds of tourists walking the streets freely.
CAPTAIN DAVID MCRAE:
The purpose of my trip was to identify a project that could be established in Jamaica and that would be able to satisfy the domestic market while having export possibilities. There are many similarities between Jamaica and Thailand: we are both Third World countries; we have a reasonable labour market, the climate is similar and we cooperate with neighbouring countries.
My impressions are that the country does not want to remain where it is and is making an effort to become a developed country like Japan and Singapore. The new airport (Suavarnabhumi Airport) that had a soft opening during our stay, passed with flying colours and will be the most advanced aviation hub in South-east Asia with a capacity to handle up to 45 million passengers a year.
One of the companies that I visited, CP Foods Limited, has sales of US$13 billion, employs 200,000 ad aims to become 'The Kitchen of the World' through production, processing and sale of food products. Everybody seems to be employed.
During my walk in town I was asked to purchase several different items from vendors on heavily congested streets, but even after I refused I was never asked to make any donation to the individual's welfare.
Begging seems to be a no-no. Everyone does something and if they receive nothing, it is still appreciated. In my six days here I have not seen any garbage at all. Rural area roads are old but clear. Being Buddhist seems to play a large part Thais' respect for one another.
If Jamaica goes back 30-40 years and adopts values and attitudes, respect for one another - including property and goods - domestic violence would decrease. If everyone is employed, there will be no time for violence.
PATRICK LAWRENCE:
Lasco formed part of the delegation to Thailand. We attended that Thai Kitchen World Cuisine Trade Show from September 28-30. Lasco was represented by the General Manager of the Consumer Division, Neville Ledgister and me.
The primary purpose of Lasco's visit was to explore opportunities in the procurement of food and consumer products. We are extremely encouraged by the possibilities and links we have forged. We are optimistic that the visit will help to advance our commitment to loyal customers and consumers through the provision of high quality products at affordable prices.
From all indications Thailand seems to be a thriving economy which has grown by 6.1 per cent. It is our understanding that inflation is about 3.5 per cent, evident in the vast amount of manufacturing and production activities taking place in the economy. This includes an apparent boom in the construction industry, food and allied products.
In addition, it appears that the business sector is very confident and optimistic about the future of Thailand's economy.
It is very instructive that the local people of Thailand continue to play a very significant role in the development of their economy. Despite pockets of abject poverty in many areas, the people seem to be very service-oriented and are largely non-violent in their general disposition and attitude.
DAVID RICKHAM:
I am in Thailand because I have a small import-export company which currently exports from Thailand to the United States and the United Kingdom, with a view to including Jamaica soon. This is my third trip here.
As a Jamaican businessman, I think the environment is similar to Jamaica. Thailand has a huge industrial economy but they also have a slow way of doing things. Jamaicans tend to be more aggressive. It could be the Eastern attitude to business and although it is evident that some of the people are inefficient, they always smile. They are service-oriented.
Jamaicans could learn to smile like the Thais.
CHARLEENE SLEEM:
I went to Thailand to attend the Bangkok Trade Show but I have found out that doing business here is a lot different from what I expected.
Jamaica could learn that there is an order and peace in life and Thai people are very polite and calm. The goods are of a high quality but not necessarily cheap. The food is cheap and the people eat what they grow.
ANTHONY CHANG:
The tourism brochure describes Thailand as a country of smiles and the daily experience in Bangkok suggests that this description is not propaganda but truly reflects the reality.
Newspaper reports say the growth in the economy and inflation for this year are expected to be 3.0 and 3.5 per cent, respectively. Thailand has also been cited as the third most attractive investment destination in Asia and recorded US$1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2004.
There are three apparent features of Thailand's culture: street corner, home and business place shrines to Buddha; fresh flowers, especially orchids everywhere from traffic lights in the form of posies for car fresheners to vases full in hotel room and warm welcoming smiles on everyone's faces.
Business culture is outwardly pleasant, purposeful but not aggressive or assertive and everyone is fairly humble in conversation. Frustrating at times for the let's-get-on-with-the-business types. It is no surprise that Thailand is rated highly in the hospitality industry.
For sure, the country has social challenges of poverty, rural underdevelopment and racial terrorist groups but in spite of these issues, they have grown and developed. But what makes Thailand different from the rest in my opinion are the smiles, flowers and Buddha.
