Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday called on business people and government officials to apply good governance principles in order to promote sustainable economic growth. Surayud was speaking to more than 200 business people and high-level government officials at the annual meeting of the Thai Chamber of Commerce(TCC).

Problems occurred before because people lacked moral behaviour, he said.

The best solution for all those problems is to encourage people to have a more moral mindset, he said, adding that adults should set a good example for the next generation.

"I believe the good governance principle will lead the Kingdom's economy and society to a sustainable development," he said.

Conflict in the Kingdom would be eliminate if all businessmen abided by moral and good governance principles in their living and business operations, he said.

He said the six main tenets of the good governance philosophy were respect for the law, morality, transparency, cooperation, moderation, and an awareness of responsibility.

The prime minister was the special guest speaker at the 24th annual TCC meeting, which ended yesterday.

In his speech entitled "The promotion of good governance for the sustainable operation of Thailand's economy", Surayud suggested people exercise the moral teachings of their religion and apply them to their business operations.

He said every religion had its own moral code to develop people's minds, which helped lead to sustainable growth.

For instance, he said Buddhists should apply the principles of the Five Precepts to their daily lives.

Starting with His Majesty the King's birthday on December 5, all Buddhists should follow the Five Precepts in a bid to help develop Thai society in the right direction, he said.

Surayud said his interim government would carry out its tasks in a transparent, moral, effective and economic way. He said a new constitution that would be acceptable to the Thai population would come into force within about one year.

The government would also abide by the principles of the sufficiency economy philosophy in accordance with a trade liberalisation policy to attract foreign business under fair conditions, he said.

After the meeting, Dusit Nontanakon, the TCC's secretary-general, said to achieve the promotion of a sufficiency economy policy, the government must include the philosophy in the education system from primary school level onwards.

He said the private sector and the government must cooperate to promote this philosophy to the public.

The government should also create an industry cluster for a variety of businesses such as tourism, agricultural and the retail industry.

Dusit said the government should also improve labour skills in accordance with market demand and help develop provincial economic growth.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima