For the Thai authorities, Chambers of Commerce are the official speaking or negotiating partners representing the Foreign Business Community or interests on a very large number of topics. These topics range from legislative questions (Foreign Business Act, Labor Act, Competition Act) to practical problems (functioning of customs, VAT Refund audits by Revenue Department).
Meeting the Foreign Chambers of Commerce is also a way for the Thai authorities to seek the Foreign Business' Community opinion, advice, recommendations with a view toward formulating new policies (e.g. the promotion of Foreign Direct Investments).
Representatives of the Foreign Chambers of Commerce meet each other in regular and professionally organized circles. This gives each Chamber the opportunity to hear the problems and find the solutions encountered by other Chambers members, to harmonize the views of the various Chambers on the main issues and to inform other Chambers of new situations or difficulties that they might not have noticed yet.
- Frequency: the last Wednesday of each month.
- Attendants: 60 Board members among whom one representative (the President) of each of the 15 Foreign Chambers of Commerce.
- Main Topics: quite formal. However, the business agenda is an effective way of conveying messages and discussing issues.
- The Thai Board members are representatives of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the main trade associations and governmental enterprises.
- The Board of Trade is one of the official policies formulating body.
- Frequency: the 3 rd Monday of each month, hosted by each Chamber in running alphabetical order.
- Attendants: Chamber's President who can be replaced by the Vice President or another Chamber's Representative.
- Main Topics: Review of the main topics followed up with the Thai authorities (e.g. Foreign Business Act, VAT Refund, Customs Issues, Revenue Department, Board of Investment, Immigration Department).
- Frequency: the 3 rd Thursday of each month.
- Attendants: one representative of each Chamber.
- Topics:
- Executive follow-up of the President's Meeting:
- issues are discussed from a technical point of view
- opinion of Chambers' members are sought
- solutions and tips are exchanged among the participating representatives.
- Executive follow-up of the President's Meeting:
In addition to the meetings, some ad-hoc events are organized, such as working meetings with the Revenue Department, Labour Department etc.. These meetings are organized and attended by the respective Directors.
