Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and the Head of the National Council

for Peace and Order held a meeting with representatives from

the Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (JFCCT)

19 June 2014, the Royal Thai Army Headquarters

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On 19 June 2014, 14.00 – 15.30 hrs, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Commander-in-Chief of   the Royal Thai Army and the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), together with four Deputy Heads of the NCPO, held a meeting with representatives from the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand at the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. The meeting was also attended by high ranking officials from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

General Prayut explained to the foreign business community that the military was compelled to take control of national administration in order to solve the prolonged political conflict which had resulted in violence and administrative paralysis. The action of the NCPO was thus necessary in order to restore peace and order as well as to prevent the escalation of violence. In addition, General Prayut explained the 3-step roadmap that the NCPO envisaged to put the country on the path towards reconciliation and sustained democracy.

Representatives from the JFCCT expressed their understanding of the NCPO’s necessity, given the political impasse of the past 6 months. They hope to see positive developments of substantial reform in Thailand. In addition, they expect that the NCPO will take this opportunity to improve Thailand’s laws and regulations concerning trade and investment so as to facilitate foreign investors.         

General Prayut thanked representatives from foreign chambers of commerce for their understanding and viewpoints and emphasized the NCPO’s commitment to carry out reforms in order to put the country back on the path towards sustained democracy. The Head of the NCPO added that international trade and investment should free and fair to all parties. Aiming to facilitate all foreign investors, he also conveyed the NCPO’s full willingness to consider recommendations from foreign chambers of commerce, through related government agencies.

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                                                                                                                                                           20 June 2014