A determination to work for fellow business people plays an important role in driving Kriengkrai Thiennukul's passion to work for the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
Succeeding Supant Mongkolsuthree as FTI chairman in April, Mr Kriengkrai wants to further develop the industrial sector by helping companies gain more access to financial aid and equipping their employees with new business knowledge, which is crucial amid economic uncertainties.
His experience with many business associations and his working style will be among the factors helping him attain the goal during his two-year term as the 16th chairman of the FTI.
"When I work, I prefer working in a team to a one-man show," said the 62-year-old businessman who served as a vice-chairman of the FTI for four years.
That is his way of coping with work challenges, especially at a time when the FTI has to cooperate with businesses to get through economic turbulence, brought about by Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war.
BEYOND FAMILY BUSINESS
With a background in the printing business, Mr Kriengkrai started working with business associations by first applying his experience to the Thai Printing Association (TPA), a move that paved the way for his contribution to many other industries.
"I began to work for a business community more than 20 years ago, leaving a printing business with my family to take care of it," Mr Kriengkrai told the Bangkok Post.
He decided to bid farewell to his family business and devoted himself totally to his new job as a chairman of the TPA.
"I was elected chairman for four terms, thanks to support from members and friends. I was then the youngest chairman."
In 2001, Mr Kriengkrai announced the TPA wanted to help make Thailand a hub of the printing industry in Asean. His goal was to improve Thai printing businesses so they could compete with Singapore.
Many measures were launched to support the domestic printing industry. One was a call on the government to reduce import taxes on printing machinery and other necessary items used in printing factories.
"The push for the growth of the printing industry was successful as it increased the export value of this sector to around 30 billion baht a year, up from 100 million baht," said Mr Kriengkrai.
"I was happy with the outcome and very proud that I achieved the goal."
Mr Kriengkrai, together with key business leaders, also pushed ahead with a project to build Printing City at the Sinsakhon Industrial Estate in Samut Sakhon.
The industrial complex, the 13th establishment overseen by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, serves as a centre of the printing and packaging industry in Thailand.
Investment projects were supported by tax incentive packages granted by the Board of Investment.
This development was in line with the government's policy to increase manufacturers' capacity to export their products to the world market.
PAPER HOUSE
An opportunity for the TPA to showcase its work and help promote Thailand came in 2003 when the country hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.
Mr Kriengkrai was behind the scenes helping the TPA in the Apec Investment Mart, held as part of the summit that year.
The TPA was tasked with the construction of a paper-made traditional Thai pavilion under a tight deadline.
"We had around 50 days to get things ready. This event was a big opportunity for the TPA," said Mr Kriengkrai.
The outcome was successful as a Thai-style house was eventually erected on an area of 400 square metres and able to host up to 811 people at the same time.
That not only marked cooperation of printing companies under the TPA, but "the house was also recorded as the world's largest paper building in the Guinness World of Records", said Mr Kriengkrai.
ONE FTI
After working with the TPA, Mr Kriengkrai applied his knowledge and experience more widely to other industries and, as the new FTI chairman, he aims to further develop the manufacturing sector under the "ONE FTI" policy.
He wants to see the policy help "strengthen Thai industries for a stronger Thailand".
ONE FTI emphasises stronger collaboration among entrepreneurs in order to promote potential industries across the country under a "One Province, One Industry" plan, which is aimed at having both local business people and villagers enjoy the fruitful outcome of local business operations in a sustainable way.
Factory owners, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will be also encouraged to adopt modern technological innovations to improve their manufacturing.
"We will keep working closely with SMEs and state agencies in order to drive the Thai economy forward," he said.
The right business vision and adequate understanding of the domestic and global economy are required for the FTI, which covers 45 industries, said Mr Kriengkrai, who acquired analytical skills in an economic context from his undergraduate studies at Thammasat University's Faculty of Economics.
He stressed good action plans are needed to drive businesses in the age of "VUCA", which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.
Covid-19, which hit the world in 2020, put countries in a volatile situation for years while the Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Russia have exacerbated the economic uncertainties.
Not only the FTI but also all businesses must brace for the impact of VUCA and prepare the right solutions to get through the problems, according to Mr Kriengkrai.
