Thailand hosts int'l conference on legal execution in ASEAN

BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - Thailand hosts an international conference on the enforcement of civil judgment in the context of dynamic regional economic integration, set to be held in Bangkok from July 27-28. Thai Justice Minister General Paiboon Khumchaya on Monday chaired the conference, aimed to be a platform for member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to exchange experiences on legal knowledge, regulations and legal execution system. The two-day forum is also aimed to work out best practices for enforcing civil judgment among ASEAN member states, the 10-member bloc's dialogue partners and international organisations. The conference, the first of its kind, is also set up to support the legal execution system within the region, ahead of the ASEAN Community (AC), scheduled to be formed by the end of this year. The Thai justice minister said Thailand is currently under the stage of reforming, especially in the legal system, in which justice must be created to benefit business operators and the underprivileged. In a latest move, the Thai justice minister noted, his ministry has amended the law on reviving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whose businesses account for 37 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and where 10-11 million workers are employed. According to the Thai minister, Thailand will learn on the legal execution and laws favourable to investment, presented as examples at the conference, in order to improve and amend Thai laws, particularly those from Singapore, which are known for their flexibility in attracting international investment into the island state. (TNA)