9/14/2008

Tears In Heaven

Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven?

Would you feel the same If I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong and carry on'Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven

Would you hold my hand If I saw you in heaven?

Would you help me stand If I saw you in heaven?

I'll find my way through night and day'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven

Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees Time can break your heart, have you begging please, beggin please

Beyond the door there's peace I'm sureAnd I know there'll be no more tears in heaven.

Eric Clapton wrote this song for the valuest of his life, that was his son. His son died by some accident when he was so young but he had to continue his life even without his kid. It was very terrible for his mind.

I chose this song because I liked Eric Clapton when he played this song he communicate with us by music and he made me belive him that he very sad when he lost his son.

9/07/2008

Tesco Lotus

Since 1998, Tesco Lotus opened its first branch in Asia (Thailand). Tesco lotus has become successful and grown rapidly. After analyzing Tesco Lotus, it could become even more successful by expand its plants into other areas. However, Tesco Lotus needs to help those family shop houses who are afraid of being unemployed.
In Tesco Lotus Company uses value chain to provide systematic methods and ways, in order for them to function in the divided section, which therefore it can be grouped, according to its prospective. In additional, the company combination with the organization units/ department, which create ideal linkage connection. The organizational structures have provided mechanisms for injunction, which is related linkages in the value chain and it is believed that it has played major roles in internal and external of the organization.
One of the most important key factors for Tesco Lotus’s success is its service. Tesco Lotus tries hard to reach its customers’ satisfaction. “It creates values for customers in order to earn lifetime loyalty. Tesco Lotus understands customers better and is more energetic and innovative using exceptional strengths to deliver unbeatable value to customers.” And this factor made Tesco Lotus the leading discount store of all in Thailand. First of all, Tesco tries to make customers’ shopping place more convenient by providing various kinds of services for different kind people. It provides carts, mini carts (especially designed for children), carts with baby seat, wheel chairs (for disable people), and baskets. It also provides pure drinking water while customers are shopping. Furthermore, cart lockers are provided for storing goods when customers eat. Besides these, Tesco Lotus provides after sales service, which customers can a free delivery for home appliances, free maintenance, and special low installation fee. Carry to car service, shuttle bus play land for kids, secured car park, etc are also provided. In addition, Tesco Lotus’s website gives visitors some tips for main dish, dessert recipe and apparel tips plus techniques. However, these services can be easily imitated by its competitors. Tesco Lotus moreover has its own credit card and member privilege, which offer discount and points when buying goods, points can be collected for more discount the next time. Due to the fact that Tesco Lotus is a discount store, which sells finished goods obtained from its suppliers. Since lotus has huge purchasing power , therefore they are enable to purchase goods at lower selling price for example a wholesales price for a can of coke from the local distributor is 13 baht but Tesco Lotus could obtain it at a lower price. This is the reason why lotus could deliver same products as the market at lower margin price. Lotus has diversified its customers into 2 groups the retails and wholesales which is why they have to ensure about the purchasing process so that it could obtain the lowest cost. Lotus acts not only as a middle man but also a main distribution channel for the main supplier

30 baht health care scheme

Before an implementation of the health scheme stated above, there were a few of other health care policies used in Thailand as well, generally called Four Public Risk Protection schemes

1. Civil servants medical benefit scheme—introduced in the 1960s for civil servants and their dependants
2. Low income card scheme—introduced in the 1970s, providing free care to low income families and individuals, elderly people, children under 12 years, and people with disabilities
3. Voluntary health card scheme—predominantly rural; introduced in the 1980s and funded through equal matching of household and Ministry of Public Health payments
4. Social security scheme—introduced in the 1990s; it protects workers only and is mandatory Tables showing the costs of health care are on bmj.com for all private firms with more than one employee

Although, all of the schemes were good, they have overlapped each others in scope of eligible person receiving the health care support. Roughly, they have left about 18.5 million of Thai citizen paying all the health fees by themselves, while helping 43.5 million people in their treatments. However, contribute to what I have learnt from the class, government should subsidize health care service, or provides the health care support or insurance fairly to everybody in the country. And with the statement of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it said, “Everyone as a member of a society, has the right to social security of the welfare,” which then encouraged the government, under Prime Minister Shinawat’s control, to reintroduce a better health care scheme that can provide equality treatment to every Thai people. The new health scheme under the name ‘30 baht health care scheme’ provides wide rank of health care services to all people regardless of their financial situations. It is an answer of what needy people actually require to lighten their burdens.

30 baht health care scheme was introduced to Thailand since 2001 together with the victory in an election of Prime Minister Taksin Shinnawat and his Thai-Rak-Thai party. Instead of those 4 schemes, the government under P.M. Shinawat decided to merge resources from 4 schemes to one universal coverage scheme. The scheme is to subsidize health care especially for the poor people in order to increase equality in Thai society. In general, 30 Baht policy is to be used by all Thai citizenship; however most often use is distributed to the low income people. For most of the reason, the poor always search for low-cost or free health care services; meanwhile other higher income groups place more emphasis on the adequacy of hospitals and personnel, in particular to doctors and good treatment from health care personnel. Even so, most of people still insist to have this program in action to aid low income people, and to secure themselves in case of catastrophic illnesses in the future.

9/01/2008

JTEPA and Thailand

Japan-Thailand Economics Partnership Agreement or JTEPA is a free trade agreement contract that Thailand and Japan have made together which offer the mutual convenience in trading and service, and also other benefits concerning of two countries. In recognizing of the need to develop and enhance cooperation between people and business communities of the parties for mutual benefits, also knowing that the economic partnerships of the party would create larger and new markets, and would increase economic efficiency and consumer welfare, enhancing the attractiveness and vibrancy of their markets, and expanding trade and investment not only between them but also in the region, Thailand and Japan are agree in signing of JTEPA. In addition, it is convinced that the making of this agreement will stronger economic linkages between the partied which would provide greater opportunities, larger economies of scale and a more predictable environment for economic activities not only for Japanese and Thai business but also for other businesses in Asia.

The agreement has been negotiating since February 2004; however its principles were first announced later on 1st September 2005 at Tokyo, Japan. Yet, the real signing of the agreement between Thailand and Japan was actually on 3rd April 2007, signed between the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and the Prime Minister of Thailand, Surayud Chulanont, which was enacted last year from 1st November 2007.

From signing JTEPA, Thailand has built a stronger belief which then ensures more safety and beneficial investment to Japanese investors to increase their investment degree in Thai market. As a chain result, other foreign investors also enlarge their investment in Thailand in order to gain more Japanese market sections. After doing JTEPA, Japan immediately eradicated tax for some of Thai agricultural products, for example, shrimp, topical fruit, canned fruit, etc. Then, it will cancel tax within five to ten years for products like Squid and pet food, reduced half or more than half of the tax for instant seafood and boiled chicken. Moreover, Japan gave quota to banana, cassava flour, molasses and pineapple without paying any tax. For industrial products, Japan canceled tax for jewelry, textile and the clothing and chemicals immediately, and will cancel the tax with in seven to ten years for shoe and leather. In Trade in Service section, Thailand has opened free trade to Japan more than WTO 14 lines; however Japan has opened 135 lines more. Considering of the movement of natural person problem, Japan, now, accepts that a bachelor's degree from Thailand is as the same level as Japanese one. Consequently, more of Thai people are able to start vary of business in Japan easier, for instance, advertising, tourism and hospitality, restaurant, security service, interpreter, language institute and so on. Especially for the Thai chefs that normally do not require any degree, Japan has reduced experienced time from ten to five years to meet the condition to enter the country. For other cooperation – agricultural parts, SMEs business, tourism, etc – will also gain the benefit; however, depend on both government and public sectors to be able to maximize their own profits.