An effective but poorly-known network

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) has been rooted in the Thai landscape
for 77 years. As the intermediary between the government and businesspeople, the private, non-profit organisation is linked to a network of 75 provincial chambers, over which it has no legal power, but great influence.
A second body, the Board of Trade (BOT), was created in the wake of the Thai Chamber of Commerce to oversee international problems, and brings together the TCC, foreign Chambers of Commerce, and business associations.
With its 25,000 members, and the weight of its very own university (University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce), the TCC-BOT is currently one of the most powerful organisations in the Thai private sector, alongside the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Thai Banker’s Association (TBA). This relatively complex system oftentimes leaves businesspeople scratching their heads: “How does a business choose between the FTI and the TCC to be its representative, if it deals in both trade and production?” wonders Jingjai Hanchanlash, Vice-President of Thai group Loxley.

Influencing the policies
The TTC is nevertheless reputed for its effectiveness, especially in terms of short-term interests: export quotas, import boosting, taxes, etc. Its budget is estimated at 1.6 million euros; the 80 members of the executive committee and the president, elected by members, are not paid, but the organisation counts 190 employees. “Revenue comes from aid for the delivery of certificates of origin, money earned during our events, and member fees, which depend on the size of the company,” says Dusit Nonthanakorn, president of the TCC and the BOT. The Chamber meets with concerned Ministers and the head of government once a month. “The TCC has the power to modify governmental policies. Its experts’ reports, covering multiple areas, are taken very seriously,” says Vongthip Chumpani, banking consultant.
However, the Thai Chamber of Commerce is not well known amongst foreign companies, or bilateral Chambers. “We have no direct ties with the Thai Chamber of Commerce,” admits Marianne Daillous, Head of the French Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. “The Joint Foreign Chamber of Commerce, JFCCT (see article p. 30), is a privileged interlocutor to highlight our difficulties. Thai Chambers are only helpful, in this respect, in the provinces.” Only one third of local Chambers are powerful enough to make themselves heard, including the Chiang Mai Chamber, which counts one thousand members. “We have worked with the government to provide subsidies for local companies during the crisis,” indicates its President, Narong Kongprasert, for example. “We are also developing trade links with our Burmese, Chinese and Laotian neighbours.”
Interaction with Thai Chambers is not always simple. “They are still lacking
a certain maturity on the level of commercial relations,” says one representative of a European Chamber of Commerce, who prefers to remain anonymous. The bilateral Chambers are presumably still viewed as competition by the Thai Chambers, which have relatively protectionist policies.