Scope for trade with Thailand

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 26

Scope for trade with Thailand

(From Our Own Reporters TIMARU. Thailand, the “Land of Smiles,” was relatively peaceful, although there was a certain amount of terrorist activity in some areas, Mr A. J. Kemp-Gee said in an interview.

Mr Kemp-Gee who went ■ to Thailand in 1974 as senior adviser to a training centre for boat-building on the Mekong, said that if trouble developed it would be on the southern Laos border and in the extreme north, where North Vienam and China appeared to be supporting terrorists. There i was also insurgency in the south on the border with Malaysia. Mr Kemp-Gee is visitng I his sister in Timaru, Mrs N. R. Copus. I He does not subscribe to | the “domino theory,” the I systematic absorption by the I Communists of the countries of South-East Asia. j “There is a possibility that the area may go completely Communist, but not for ‘domino theory’ reasons. If Thailand falls, it will be because of the social structure,” said Mr Kemp-Gee. | The people of Thailand were steeped in freedom — an attitude that would be almost impossible for communism to overcome. This had already been shown in Laos, where after six months of Communist rule many people were trying to fight back against it. ! The description of the country that was most accuI rate was that it was the I “most developed underI developed country.” The I nation needed foreign investment and a sense of confidence. It was a strong

nation, with a strong Monarchy, and he felt that opportunities existed to develop trade between New Zealand and Thailand, particularly in the field of dairy produce. Trade would have to be on a reciprocal basis. Many overseas companies, attracted by good investment incentives, were setting up business there. Prominent among them were Japanese concerns. Australia was also developing strong trade ties in dairying.

The project with which Mr Kemp-Gee has been concerned, is part of the large Mekong scheme designed to develop the whole of the lower Mekong basin, embracing Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

About 50 Thais were working on the project, which nas been handed over to the Thai Government. The training programme caters for about 100 students a year from the four countries.

Mr Kemp-Gee has nothing but admiration for the people of Thailand, whom he described as delightful, and were generally favourablydisposed towards the West.