Bangkok--31 Jan--Charoen Pokphand Group
Chairman and CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group, Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont expresses confidence in Thailand’s ability to shake off affects of the current U.S. Sub-Prime crisis and states the organization’s intent to develop its workforce to supply future business expansions, and provide reforestation efforts to deforested areas.
Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont stated that the organization will continue to grow its operations by focusing upon developing countries with strong economic prospects such as China, India, Russia and Vietnam. He believes that there are opportunities throughout the world that the organization’s agribusiness and food industry can capture. This is because CP has the capability to produce energy as food for human consumption worldwide. Mr. Dhanin stated his confidence in the organization because of its technological and biological advances in the field of agricultural and aquaculture production. In the organization’s latest development, Mr. Dhanin stated that the governments of China and Russia have approved biotechnological and operational standards of the company, allowing for swine genetics to be imported from Thailand to the respected countries. In addition, CP is currently undergoing construction of a fully integrated swine production facility in Russia to serve rising consumer consumption. In this event, Mr. Dhanin asked for senior executives to develop young talent successors to prepare the organization’s internal workforce as the company continues to grow globally:
“At present, there are opportunities hidden all around us, however, what we lack is abundance in human resource with the capabilities to identify such opportunities. We need to assist each other in developing an effective and efficient workforce. Do not view a 20 year old employee as a child, because when I was that age, I was given a responsible role for which I have continually gained both experience and knowledge from.”
Mr. Dhanin declared that CP Group has always acknowledged the importance of forests that enriches the land we live in and that there has never been and there never will be any company policy that supports deforestation for use of farmland. He explained that the company’s policy is for all business units of the organization to respect forests and provide reforestation assistance in deforested areas. Mr. Dhanin reminded employees that between the years of 1994-1999, during His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne, CP Group has planted trees on over 100,000 rai (39,525 acres) throughout the country and will continue to support such initiatives.
Mr. Dhanin reiterated his confidence in Thailand’s capabilities of deflecting threats from the U.S. sub-prime crisis. He viewed that Thailand should turn this crisis into an opportunity because the country is abundant with natural resources where agricultural products can be sustainably grown. Mr. Dhanin compared the richness of the nation’s agricultural to “oil”, both providing energy and income. This can be witnessed as Thailand is one of the world’s largest agricultural producers of rice and rubber for instance. Today, agricultural products such as palm sugar, corn, and cassava are turned into alternative energy fuels, increasing the need for agricultural produce.
Mr. Dhanin spoke of his desire for the government to see the true importance of agriculture in Thailand. In the example of rice and rubber, Mr. Dhanin has sought out a strategy to turn competitors into allies by synergizing agricultural exporters from around the world to decide upon the appropriate prices of products. This strategic partnership will mirror how oil producers of the world operate. Agricultural farmers’ income will rise as a result as well as their standard of living, which in turn, effectively improves the economic state of the country:
“Why do we need to compete with Vietnam in rice trade, competition will ultimately turn it into a price war, nobody gains anything. However, if we work along side one another to set prices, it is a win-win situation, because no matter what the price is, rice is a product people will always need.”
Mr. Dhanin further added that rubber farming is an agricultural product with a bright future. He stated that China’s 3 billion and India’s 1.2 billion populations represent potential users of automobiles in the future for which rubber is a required product. As China and India as well as Russia standards of living continue to develop, their countries’ people will want to own motorcycles, cars and trucks. If major producers of rubber in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia coordinate their prices in trade, agricultural farmers will be able increase their income and standard of living as well.
Office of Corporate Communications Affairs
Charoen Pokphand Group
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