Bangkok

On-site interview with Stefan Buerkle from the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce

Thailand – extended workbench? Low-wage country? Chiefly an exporter of exotic fruits? All falsehoods according to Stefan Buerkle, managing director of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC). “Thailand’s per capita gross national product would put it at tenth place compared to all EU states,” Buerkle argues. At 1.5 million per year, the Southeast Asian country produces more automobiles than, for example, Italy. The country’s GINI index (uneven distribution of income/assets) is higher than that of the United States or Singapore and the poverty level has dropped drastically since 1990. Compared with other countries of the region, Thailand, says Buerkle, is anything but a low-wage country, but has very favourable cost structures, an outstanding (traffic) infrastructure and a remarkable health system. “And with a predicted growth rate this year of 7.5 percent, it’s a very interesting business partner.”

Developing bilateral economic relations is only one of the tasks of the GTCC. Others include serving as the official representatives of German industry, seeking out sales partners and representing German trade fair companies. Its relations with Germany are the most significant as well as the oldest in all of Southeast Asia. As early as 150 years ago the Hanseatic cities of Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck signed a trade agreement with the then Kingdom of Siam under King Mongkut.

“For Thailand, Germany is the most important European trade partner,” says Buerkle. He quantifies the volume of both sides’ commitment at “between 4.5 and 5 billion euros” and rising. It is an absolutely unique situation that Thailand consistently brings in a trade surplus compared with the long-time export world champion Germany.

Buerkle emphasizes that his chamber is bilaterally organized with almost 500 companies and that membership is voluntary, unlike in Germany. “We are not the German chamber in Thailand.” Late this month, Bangkok will be speaking Saxon when four firms alone from the Free State will share a stand at the largest mechanical engineering trade fair of the region, Metalex 2010, while others will be represented by the ICC Zwickau branch.