The government and the public will have to work together to rehabilitate the nation after the flood crisis, to ensure that we emerge stronger. Beneath the lower growth-rate forecasts recently announced by some economic institutes, there are a number of issues that the government will have to tackle to ensure the nation rebounds in the long run.

Instead of focusing on bolstering short-term growth, Thailand should have a comprehensive platform to address future natural disasters, to win back the confidence of investors and to create greater immunity against such shocks. Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) recently slashed its 2011 economic growth forecast to 1.5 percent from 3.5-4 percent. What is worrisome is not the lower growth rate but the consequences following the flood and how we will be able to cope with natural disasters in the future.

The government’s immediate challenge is how to find or maintain jobs for workers who already are, or will be, unemployed because their workplaces have been forced to shut down operations. The massive flooding has hit seven major industrial estates with more than 800,000 workers. The shutdown has immediately affected temporary or contract workers, who lost their jobs after the factories suspended normal operations.

While job creation will be a big challenge for the government and responsible agencies, there is also the daunting task of restoring the confidence of foreign investors. Many of the affected companies and factories are big employers from abroad. If they don’t want to come back to Thailand, these workers will be permanently out of a job and will become dependent on the government’s support.

The government has already said that it will win back the confidence of investors. But this is easier said than done. Top economic advisers plan to organise trips to investing countries such as Japan. But these trips alone will not make any dent if Thailand does not do anything to prove that the country has learned from the situation and will improve its infrastructure and preparedness to cope with future flooding or other natural disasters.

A comprehensive plan on how to prevent future flooding should be laid out and executed in earnest. Many flood experts have talked about the necessity of creating zoning for water retention, and waterways to let flood water flow unimpeded. Such a plan is imperative, yet it will be difficult to envisage and execute. Some people may have to lose their property if their homes or workplaces are designated as a waterway or water-retention area. The government will have to exercise good leadership and provide fair compensation to convince people who reside in such designated areas to move to other areas for the overall benefit of the nation.

After the flood, it is expected that a number of projects to help and compensate victims and industries will come into play. The government and parties involved will have to ensure that the money earmarked for these projects is well spent. Again, easier said than done. The flooding, which has been going on for two months, has exposed the same old problem regarding the use of public money. During the recent parliamentary debate, there were accusations about the misuse by politicians of flood-relief money and donations for victims. These alleged abuses of public funds and donations cannot be tolerated; it’s an ongoing vicious cycle, with much evidence now coming in the form of video clips taken by members of the public. Taxpayers’ money that the government plans to spend to on the recovery effort must fully serve its purposes.

On a positive note, the flooding has shown the spirit of Thais in helping each other, in spite of conflicts between communities in some areas over water barriers. Millions of Thais have directly or indirectly joined the efforts to provide relief to the flood victims, to help compensate for the government’s inadequate measures to help. Many people have been involved in some kind of volunteer work, either donating their time, money or goods. Many have offered their labour, filling sandbags, packing relief-supply bags, distributing goods and rescuing victims from flood-hit areas.

Communities have learned that they cannot merely wait for government assistance . The momentum of this spirit should be continued and enhanced. The people’s spirit shows how Thais can be resilient. This will be the most convincing element in recovery and in winning back the confidence of international investors.

(The Nation (Thailand))

(Asia News Network)