Governor backs IBAP

PHUKET TOWN: At a meeting also attended by the Senator for Phuket, Paiboon Upatising, Provincial Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi today gave his support to the International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP). The Governor said that he could see IBAP’s potential as a forum in which Thais and foreigners could work together to come up with new ideas to benefit society. Also present at the second open meeting of IBAP were the President of the Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), Dr Prasit Koysiripong, and its Chairman, Somchai Duangkae, as well as some 60 IBAP members and members of the public. Governor Pongpayome noted that the purposes of IBAP might have been misunderstood by some people. He urged members to ensure that the organization’s activities “be open and transparent so that people understand what it is doing”. Guest speakers at the meeting, held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, were Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, who spoke on “Globalization and its Thai Critics”, and Peter van Haren, IT adviser to the Thai government, who examined “What Phuket needs to become an IT Center”. IBAP has established working committees to cover sustainable growth and regulatory affairs, and – in cooperation with the OrBorJor and local teachers – an internship program under which Thai students will receive training from IBAP member companies. It will hold its next general meeting in mid-January.