THAILAND:
The Challenges of Change
The
U.S.-Thailand Business Council (USTBC) and the Thailand-U.S. Business Council
(TUSBC) held their Sixth Joint Annual Meeting — Thailand: The Challenges
of Change — in Washington, DC on December 13 and 14, 2001.
The
6th Joint Annual Meeting of the TUSBC and USTBC was scheduled to coincide
with the visit of Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra to Washington, D.C. Mr. Kosit Panpiemras, the
Chairman of Bangkok Bank Plc., and the current Chairman of TUSBC, led the
private sector delegation traveling with the Prime Minister. Richard
S. Fuld, Jr. Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers, and the current Chairman
of the USTBC led the U.S. side.
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On
December 13, the USTBC held a reception and dinner co-hosted by former
Vice President Dan Quayle, to launch the U.S. Thailand Interparliamentary
Forum under its co-chairmen, Senator Kit Bond (R-MO), Congressman
Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Congressman Tony Hall (D-Ohio). The
Interparliamentary Forum is an initiative of the U.S.-Thailand Business
Council that will seek to increase dialogue, develop better understanding
and enhance cooperation between the two countries through a serial exchange
program for legislators and their senior staff. Prime
Minister Thaksin endorsed the Forum and spoke at the dinner to express
his full support of the program.
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Dr.
Somkid Jatusripitak, Minister of Finance of Thailand, opened the
Annual Meeting at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Annual Meeting speakers featured
such luminaries as former Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, Richard
Fuld, Chairman of Lehman Brothers, Newsweek columnist, Robert Samuelson,
as well as Stanley Roth, former Assistant Secretary of State. Among the
Thai speakers were Dr. Ajva Taulananda, Chairman of Thai Chamber
of Commerce, Dr. Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, Deputy Governor of
Bank of Thailand and Dr. Sarasin Viraphol, Executive VP for Charoen
Pokkaphan Group.
Letter
of Support from Secretary Donald L. Evans, U.S. Department of Commerce
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