Transcript of the above video:

ASEAN, which is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which we don't really talk about very much. I used to blog a lot about ASEAN frankly going back 10 years ago, 5 years ago. ASEAN, it is not that it is less relevant, I think that it is actually just more relevant and it has just become more operational and the member states are just more active in it and it is almost like you don't even see how active they are. When it was coming together it was all sort of new, now it's kind of old hat and other than the ASEAN Chair when you see a country like Thailand for example have the ASEAN chair, you kind of notice it. Otherwise, unless there is big news, you don't really think about it; at least I don't. I got to think of making this video because I actually think this video is relatively important for those who are looking at sort of long-term business prospects and position of Thailand here in this region of the world.

I got to thinking of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: The Thai and British monarchies reflect different political realities. Interesting article, a lot of information in there. I am quoting a rather small excerpt so I urge those who are watching this video, go check out that article for more information. Quoting directly: "The future of the two countries in third quarter 2022 look very different. Thailand sits geographically at the apex of ASEAN, the free trade zone of nine regional partners. She has the second largest GDP after Indonesia and is successfully encouraging significant foreign investment for example in the Eastern Economic Corridor, in high tech industries." Yeah I think that is true. I honestly think the Eastern Economic Corridor is going to be something of a boomtown, for lack of a better word. I think moving forward over the course of the next 10 years I kind of held back on commenting the last couple of years sort of watching this come together but I have got to say, when a good plan comes together, it certainly comes together and that's what it looks like in the EEC. The infrastructure projects that have been started to sort of knit that whole area together, they are coming together quite smoothly. In fact it's almost kind of awe inspiring, the amount of road construction; the amount of rail construction that has gone into essentially modernizing the whole area. Then the creation of the legal framework which is the Eastern Economic Corridor itself I think is going to give that region of Thailand the freedom, for lack of a better word or the opportunity may be the right word, the opportunity to really come into its own. I think it could really be a significantly beneficial place to do business. I think they are doing everything that they can to try and get rid of as much red tape as possible so that folks can just do business in Thailand. Now that said, as folks are all going to know and I will probably see in the comments, there is always going to be some level of red tape in Thailand I am sure, but relative to other parts of the country, the EEC looks poised to be a significant powerhouse in terms of business and frankly I am quite optimistic about the future with respect to the Eastern Economic Corridor.