Analyzing the Factors Contributing to the Establishment of Thailand as a Hub for Regional Operating Headquarters

Announcing:

Su Yin, Myat and John Walsh, “Analyzing the Factors Contributing to the Establishment of Thailand as a Hub for Regional Operating Headquarters,” Journal of Economics and Business Studies, Vol.2, No.6 (June, 2011), pp.275-87, available at: http://www.ifrnd.org/JEBS/2(6)%20June%202011/Analyzing%20the%20Factors%20Contributing_to%20the%20Establishment%20of%20Thailand.pdf.

Abstract:

In June 2010, the Thai government proposed improved investment tax incentive schemes to attract more foreign companies to establish Regional Operating Headquarters (ROH) in Thailand. The major theme of incentive packages has historically been the waiving of income tax on ROHs locating in the Kingdom. In the wake of recent political crises, these tax benefits are considered as important measures in reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as an important manufacturing and service hub for the ASEAN region. While investor confidence was wavering because of the unstable political environment that has appertained since 2006, investors are weighing business continuity and safety concerns against the provided and proposed incentives. This paper briefly compares the original ROH tax incentives from 2002 with the new ones, examines the factors contributing to the establishment of Thailand as a hub for ROHs and analyzes the competitiveness of Thailand in comparison with Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia in the context of national competitiveness for establishing ROH. National competitiveness is measured by using the Double Diamond-based nine factor model (IPS Model) from the IPS national competitiveness research study.

Key Words:  Regional Operating Headquarters (ROH), Competitiveness, IPS Model, Thailand

Review of Dewanand’s The Koran: Forbid or Rewrite

In the normal course of reviewing, I try to follow DH Lawrence’s dictum to ‘trust the tale, not the teller,’ despite my many misgivings about Lawrence’s own work. However, the author of the current book, Dewanand, introduces so much of himself into the text that it seems appropriate in this case at the least to introduce the concept of the authorial voice. I will start with a quote from p.111, in the introduction to an article (the book is really a compendium of articles, possibly ordered chronologically) entitled “Mohammed is Eighty Three Times Worse than Hitler”: “This article was originally written in the PI Nordsingel (House of Custody) at Rotterdam, cell CS16, on August 21, 2002.

Read the full review here, if you really wish.