Thailand and the Global Economy
An Evening with Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij

8pm Weds, August 4, 2010

(Please see pricing and reservation procedure below)

 

Advance Bookings Recommended

In December 2008, Korn Chatikavanij was appointed minister of finance in Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party-led coalition government, and immediately began a trial by fire as the worldwide financial crisis threatened to engulf countries large and small. Two stimulus packages were shepherded through the cabinet. The second of those, in March 2009, totaled Baht 1.6 trillion.

By mid-year 2009, the Thai economy began to show signs of recovery, as exports and private consumption revived. By year's end, Mr Korn had been voted both global finance minister of the year and Asia-Pacific finance minister of the year by "The Banker," a Financial Times publication, the first Thai minister to ever receive such an honor.

But as the new year dawned, new challenges appeared. The court-ordered seizure of assets belonging to fugitive former prime minster Thaksin Shinawatra was followed by the Siege of Ratchaprasong, as red shirted Thaksin supporters brought central Bangkok to a halt for nearly two months, causing a serious dip in the tourism sector.

Mr Korn has come to his portfolio well prepared. The grandson of a privy counselor, he was born in London and educated at a succession of English schools, earning a Bachelors Degree with honors in philosophy, politics and economics from St John's College, Oxford. His classmate at Oxford was his life-long friend, the present Thai prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Returning to Thailand in 1988 to found an investment bank in a joint venture with Jardine Fleming Securities, Mr Korn build JF Thanakom into the country's largest brokerage before selling it to JP Morgan in 1999. He remained with the firm until 2004 when he left to run successfully for a parliamentary seat in the February 2005 general election.

Appointed Democrat Party deputy secretary general and secretary for economic affairs, Mr Korn played a major role in examining the Shinawatra family assets, and has said that if it had been up to him, the state would have seized not a portion of those assets but them all.

Please join us as we welcome Mr Korn to our table for what promises to be an informative and engaging evening.

Because of the expected high demand for this program, advance booking is strongly recommended. Reserved seating is available for those member or guests who also book for the evening's buffet dinner.
Reservations: To ensure sufficient food for the buffet, we would greatly appreciate your making a buffet reservation at least one day before the program if you plan to join us for the dinner. (No penalty for cancellation if last minute conflicts arise.) Please also note that tables/seats will be reserved only for those with advance buffet bookings. To reserve, please call 02-652-0580-1 or click here to send an e-mail to info@fccthai.com .

---

---