APIC ’10: Thai group urges inclusion of Indonesia, Vietnam in APIC

14 May 2010 08:40  [Source: ICIS news]

MUMBAI (ICIS news)--Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) must consider including Indonesia and Vietnam as members, given their strong economic prospects, the chairman of a Thai industry association said on Friday.

“In our view, their membership would benefit APIC in much the same way that ASEAN has expanded,” said Aditheb Bisalbutr of the Petrochemical Industry Club, Federation of Thai Industries (FTIPC).

The two countries, which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have substantial resources and healthy economic growth, said Bisalbutr. APIC members currently include Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, India and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the FTIPC executive said that APIC members should work towards fighting protectionism.

“It is against the best interests of this organisation as a whole,” he added.

The annual APIC meeting, held for the first time in India, had more than 1,300 registered delegates, representing nearly 400 companies from more than 40 countries.

The two-day conference takes place in Mumbai on 13–14 May.

“With the ASEAN free trade agreement now implemented, petrochemical tariffs are a thing of the past and therein lies our tremendous opportunities,” said Bisalbutr.

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By: Pearl Bantillo
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