Retail Act : delaying tactic or real pressure ?

Another episode in the long saga of the Retail Act.

A quick reminder : ever since Thaksin’s years as PM, the thai authorities are working on a Retail Act, that is supposed to “curb the expansion of foreign supermarkets“.

The stakes are high : on one hand, powerfull foreign companies (Tesco Lotus and the french giant Carrefour), interests of consummers (they seem to be genuinely happy to buy in those supermarkets).

On the other hand, the necessity to save local business interests (middle men and local retailers), and some how, an idealistic thai way of living that should be saved -of course- from foreign influences…

Since the Coup, the Retail Act, along with the new Foreign Business Act, has been under the light again, with new protests from local retailers.

An article in Nation today shows that the game is likely to be continued, with new revisions…

“The Council of State plans to send the draft Retail Business Act back for revision because it believes the proposed law would not be able to curb the aggressive expansion of retail giants, a source from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) said yesterday.

It will send the bill back to the Cabinet in two weeks so that the Cabinet can send the draft to the Commerce Ministry for revision.

The move came amid strong protests from local retailers who urged the government to find measures to curb the expansion of the multinational superstore chains before enforcement of the prospective law. ”

Nation