Cablegate: Financial Turmoil: Limited Impact On Thailand

VZCZCXRO7705
PP RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #3126 2910512
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170512Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4730
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5719

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003126

STATE FOR EEB/IFD/OFD KEMonahan and IO/EDA/JHarriman

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON EINV ETRD TH
SUBJECT: Financial Turmoil: Limited Impact on Thailand

Sensitive But Unclassified. For Official Use Only.

REF: STATE 102765

1. (U) Econoff passed reftel points to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA), Ministry of Commerce, and Finance Ministry (FinMin)
on October 3. According to Director General Krit Kraichitti of the
MFA's Department of International Economic Affairs, his Department's
Division of International Economic Policy headed by Director (Mrs.)
Chulamanee Chartsuwan is the focal point for the Financing for
Development (FfD). According to FinMin Permanent Secretary Suparut
Kawatkul, the FinMin's Fiscal Policy Office, led by Director General
Somchai Sujjapongse is the other focal point for FfD in the Thai
government. According to the MFA, the Ministry of Commerce has no
role in the issue.

2. (SBU) Key contacts (above) in both the MFA and FinMin stated
they are aware of the FfD conference in November. The MFA is in the
process of preparing to brief Prime Minister Somchai on the FfD
issue and noted it will convey our demarche/points in the briefing.
The MFA hopes the Prime Minister will assign Deputy Prime Minister
Olarn Chaipravat to attend the conference, accompanied by DG Krit
and Director Chulamanee. FinMin DG Somchai noted the RTG is facing
budget constraints that may determine whether it can, in actuality,
send an official(s) to attend the conference but that he would
likely travel should funding be available.

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