CP Group supports battering rice for China’s high-speed train

BANGKOK, October 13 (TNA) - Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman and CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), said on Sunday he fully supports a Thai government plan to exchange Thai agricultural produce, especially rice, with China’s high-speed train. Dhanin said China has a total population of more than 1.3 billion and the country’s demands for agricultural products would continue rising in future. His remarks were made following Saturday’s exhibition on China’s innovative high-speed train at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, presided over jointly by visiting Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra. The exhibition ends later Sunday. The train produces low noise, save energy and offers a maximum speed of 350 kilometres per hour. Dhanin said the Thai government should also in future encourage Thai businessmen to invest more in oversea, the same thing that it offers privileges to foreign businessmen to invest in the kingdom. He said he also fully supports the government-sponsored investment worth 2.2 trillion baht on mega infrastructure projects because it could further develop Thailand’s economy. “The government should not pay attention to academics and those opposing the planned investment because Thailand still has high capital reserves while its public debt is much lower than in 1997 when the country was hit by financial crisis,” he said. Dhanin said Thailand’s gross domestic product in 2013 should grow 4 per cent and is expected to grow at 5 per cent next year due to several positive factors including growths in tourism, automotive and agricultural sectors. (TNA)