Bangkok--20 Sep--Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) held a panel discussion on "Power of State-Owned Enterprises, Synergy to Win," which was chaired by Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, in the Auditorium at THAI's Head Office. The panel discussion was attended by guests of honor: Mr. Arkhom Termpittiyapaisith, Minister of Transport, Mr. Apisak Tantivorawong, Minister of Finance, Mr. Wisudhi Srisuphan, Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Chartchai Tipsunave, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Transport, Mr. Prasong Poontaneat, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance, who were welcomed by Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, THAI Chairman of the Board of Directors, as well as members of THAI's Board of Directors and Management. The following four CEOs of leading state enterprises in Thailand participated in the panel discussion: Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Mr. Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, President, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), Mr. Payong Srivanich, President, Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited, and Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, THAI President, with more than 500 people in attendance.
Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, said that the Thai Government wants Thailand's state enterprises to join forces as each has its own strengths the cooperation is needed to drive the Thai economy. The cooperation between the four state enterprises, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, and Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited, is an important starting point that will drive Thailand's economy through the tourism and aviation industries. Furthermore, the new THAI Chairman of the Board of Directors and new THAI President were introduced, both of whom will lead THAI through to transformation. THAI employees were asked to cooperate together based on the road map in order for the Company to reach its goal to make THAI stronger than before.
Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, THAI Chairman of the Board of Directors, said that the panel discussion is part of the official visit of Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, who presented his policy to move forward with THAI's transformation plan, which the government sector is fully supportive and confident that THAI's organization and staff can surpass this crisis and make the Company stronger than ever. Cooperation between Thailand's aviation and tourism industries was announced, in addition to other industries where cooperation is mutually beneficial. The three state enterprises that will form an alliance with THAI are: Tourism Authority of Thailand, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, and Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited. This alliance will help to boost Thailand's economy with sustainable growth. The three state enterprises will cooperate with THAI as follows:
- Tourism creates the greatest revenue for the country, especially the strategy support tourism Thailand's secondary destinations that will boost aviation business, create jobs and revenue in all sectors throughout Thailand. THAI will bring tourists to all secondary destinations, whereby the Tourism Authority of Thailand will provide support through advertising and public relations.
- With regard to THAI's part in the Thai aviation industry, as the national carrier of Thailand, THAI operates the most roundtrip flights to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport and joining forces with the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited will boost Thailand as the regional aviation hub.
- In support of the Thailand 4.0 strategy and in the digital media, the leading state enterprises must support each other in the area of "Big Data." THAI, TAT, AOT, and Krungthai Bank will develop tourist segment information and make "Payment Gateway" development under the "Pao Tung" project. This project makes it easy to buy and sell, enabling simple payments to be made through all banks with notification when a payment is made, making it easy and convenient to make purchases with THAI.
Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, THAI President, said that today THAI has received full support from the government sector and the state enterprise alliance and asks that stakeholders such as customers, shareholders, investors, and partners have confidence that THAI will proceed with its transformation through to completion. The Company asks for stakeholders' understanding and support, especially as THAI Management and staff must work together to move THAI through to full transformation in order for THAI to be a highly successful national carrier that is the pride of all Thai people.
The "Power of State-Owned Enterprises, Synergy to Win" panel discussion will lead to Thailand's sustainable growth and is the starting point for cooperation between Thailand's state enterprises. In the future, THAI intends to escalate cooperation with allied organizations in other sectors, in order to further strengthen Thailand's aviation and tourism industries.