Bangkok--23 Nov--Reed Tradex
Opening Speech
Mr. Ampon Kittiampon
Secretary General
National Economic and Social Development Board
for Official Opening Ceremony of
November 23, 2006 Grand Hall 102, BITEC
Excellencies, Honorable Guests, Exhibitors,
Members of the Press,
It is an honour to be here today, and be part of METALEX 2006, an exhibition that will give all participants, not only the tools in modern technology but also a key to success in the modern competitive business.
Many people are discussing the sufficiency economy today and wondering how sufficiency economy moves Thailand along the globalization world today. On the contrary, sufficiency economy is the philosophy that will guide Thai economy to be more competitive and able to changes in the rapid modern capitalized world.
In order to move Thai economy under sufficiency economy, require three key principles; knowledge, productivity improvement and good governance. Which, I see in the METALEX 2006.
Having these three factors means having an insight to estimate our own strength, to know our competitive edge, and to be able to succeed on our own resources. Such exhibition as METALEX does not only bring in thousands of new technologies to show us our options in business but also provide us with inside research and development under hundreds of conference topics and business networking opportunity so that we have a wider path to move about in our quest for sustainable prosperity.
I see that the country will face greater challenges and major paradigm shifts under the forces of globalization during the tenth national plan period, which runs until 2010. The goal of the tenth national plan had addressed 5 major strategies, to move Thailand to be more competitive and more sustain in the development path. We emphasize on the improvement of human resources, community-based development, economic restructuring, sustainable use of natural resources and good governance. The target of the tenth national development plan is focusing quality improvement rather than achieving the quantity target. And the plan will encourage and support private sector to be a key player in the development path.
I am very appreciated to see this arrangement initiated by the private sector, this exhibition will provide Thai business to have more accessibility to knowledge and be able to improve their productivity to cope with the incoming competition in the modern business world.
And that’s why the tools METALEX 2006 will provide, namely the new technologies in machine tools and metalworking machineries and knowledge the visitors will gain and the business opportunities they will discover, will help our industrialists assess their own ability and learn how to depend on themselves. And in order to depend on themselves, they need to equip themselves with new technologies and new information. Therefore, I wish to encourage every participant to make the most out of this opportunity to equip yourselves with new technologies and opportunities that the METALEX 2006 has in store for you.
And with no further ado, I wish to officially declare METALEX 2006 open. Thank you.