SMEs entrepreneurs from Singapore and Malaysia are models for the Thais especially on the operation of franchised business and English proficiency. Big Thai companies have no such problem as they are well funded and staffed to take on overseas operation. Unfortunately, none of them have embraced and approached Asean as an entity with its distinctive norms and wisdoms. Malaysia's Air Asia and CIMB Bank are unique in this sense.
To be fair, Thailand has done better in fulfilling action plans related to two AEC strategies - equitable economic development and integration with the global economy. In its latest report to the Asean leaders last year, Thailand gave the score of fulfilling AEC measures at nearly 86 per cent, higher than the Asean average of around 80 per cent.
Upon a close scrutiny, one could easily see potholes in Thailand's commitment to the AEC under the single market and production base strategy, especially in the areas of service and direct investment. For example, Thailand has to do more to promote the 70 per cent foreign equity ownership in the service and 51 per cent in the logistic sectors, to name but a few. Other Asean members also have similar problems in coping with the sensitive behind the border measures. But the ongoing political turbulence in Thailand has made its full implementations more difficult.
Sad but true, the political/security and socio/cultural pillars have not received attention they deserved. In comparison with other core Asean members, Thailand has done pretty well on all areas except in areas of conflict prevention and social justice related issues. Indeed without continued progress on these fronts, the AEC sustainability will be greatly affected. As such, the much heralded Asean Community (AC) will remain an inspiration.