ส.อ.ท. ร่วมเสวนา “หลักนิติธรรมกับความสามารถในการแข่งขันของประเทศ”FTI Participates in the Forum on 'Rule of Law and National Competitiveness'

On October 8, 2025, Mr. Kriangkrai Theeranukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), was honored as a speaker in the forum titled 'The Preparedness of Institutional Mechanisms for National Competitiveness' at the Third Public Forum on Rule of Law, organized by the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) in collaboration with the Rule of Law and Development Management Network, World Justice Project, and THE STANDARD at the Conference Hall, 2nd floor, Thailand Institute of Justice.

The event featured a special speech by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, on the topic 'Rule of Law: A National Agenda for Thailand's Competitiveness'. The Prime Minister stated, 'I am not a lawyer, but I believe that 'Justice' is like a crucial 'pillar' of every society, and the government places great importance on strictly maintaining the rule of law.'

The Prime Minister indicated that the government's policy statement defines the actions of state officials who distort the use of law for political gain or neglect the enforcement of laws, particularly concerning drug suppression, gambling, online gambling, transnational crime, cyber threats, fake news creation, and various forms of public deception as serious disciplinary offenses warranting stringent criminal prosecution. The government is also committed to combating corruption and misconduct seriously and continuously to enhance public and international confidence.

Additionally, the Prime Minister mentioned that the government has a plan concerning the rule of law, divided into three important agendas:
    1.    Developing a roadmap for the rule of law in preparation for membership in the OECD.
    2.    Unlocking corruption and reforming legal systems that hinder development.
    3.    Promoting transparency and encouraging societal participation towards an Open Government, using digital technology to allow citizens to continuously track, monitor, and reflect their opinions on government operations while earnestly cracking down on illegal businesses such as drug trafficking, gambling, and transnational crime.

The forum “The Preparedness of Institutional Mechanisms for National Competitiveness” featured participants including Mr. Kriangkrai Theeranukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Professor Emeritus Kittipong Uraphiphatthanapong, Chairman of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Dr. Pot Aramwatananon, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Payong Sriwanna, Chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association, and Dr. Mana Nimittmongkol, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand.

This forum aimed to analyze practical challenges and assess the potential for reforming Thailand's institutional structure, leading to the creation of a stable business ecosystem conducive to sustainable investment.

The discussions focused on key issues, including:
1.    Legal and regulatory reform: Building investor confidence through clear legal frameworks conducive to business operations.
2.    Enhancing institutional capacity: Elevating the justice process and dispute resolution to be effective foundations of the economy and society.
3.    Promoting governance and combating corruption: Strategies for creating a transparent and competitively fair business ecosystem.
4.    Promoting Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Collaborative efforts for sustainable structural reforms.

Mr. Kriangkrai Theeranukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, stated that the readiness of institutional mechanisms is directly related to the country's competitiveness, as Thailand is facing a 'crisis within a crisis' from various factors, including:
    1.    U.S. tax measures and trade wars.
    2.    The issue of dumping products and export rights infringements.
    3.    Geopolitical tensions affecting production costs and business operations.
    4.    Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.
    5.    Household and business debt burdens.
    6.    Strengthening currency.
    7.    The impact of climate change.
    8.    Political stability.

He also pointed out structural problems requiring urgent attention, including an aging society, the middle-income trap, weaknesses in the education system, imbalanced budgets, corruption in the public sector, and outdated laws.

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) aims to drive the sustainable development of the Thai economy
by adhering to principles of governance, transparency, and participation from all sectors to enhance the country's competitive capabilities in the long run.