Dr.Tanit Sorat  

                        VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERARTION OF THAI INDUSTRIES

19 March 2009

The “CLM” countries combine with Cambodia, Laos PDR, and Myanmar, countries within the Southeast Asia region. Mekong River passes through these countries with a land boundary with Asian countries. These countries have culture that is similar to each other, with an abundance of natural resources that form raw materials essential for industrial developments. Cheap Labor comes from this region in great abundance to fill the production sector. Therefore this region draws investment from other parts of the world and noted for its fastest growth phenomena. In this nexus, significance lies in the regions existence as far as Thailand is concerned. This can be seen from CLM countries which Asian member having entered into FTA with China, Japan and Korea (Incoming soon) with phenomenal power in politics, military and economics. The CLM countries are members of AEC : ASEAN Economic Community, the source of raw materials and export market amounting to one-fourth of the total exports volume of Thailand. Looking at Thailand, one cannot miss its Geo-politics, that is, it has Rim land and Heartland because of sharing frontier with countries in this region by land and by sea In southern Thailand, it is a peninsular, having coastal areas on both sides that enables communications via the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region. On land, there is a land boundary with Malaysia – Singapore close to Malacca Straits which is an important sea route. South East Asia region is significant both in terms of economics and politics. Therefore, government of Thailand places emphasis on linkage with these countries for its economic progress.