Apr. 4--Thailand is set to fully open its tourism, health care, education and entertainment sectors under the Asean Economic Community (AEC) scheme, but is committed to shielding other areas where the country is uncompetitive.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said yesterday at a seminar that Thailand seemed best prepared for foreign competition in these four service sectors.

The AEC calls for removing all restrictions by 2010 for the priority services sectors -- including computers and telecommunications, tourism, health care and air transport -- and by 2013 for logistics.

Total services liberalisation is set for 2015, when countries must remove barriers in all other service sectors.

"We will start opening the service sectors that are well prepared and strong first," said Mr Alongkorn. "However, we must also take care of the sectors where we still fail to compete with foreign players, such as retail and wholesaling."

He said Thailand will move ahead with liberalising the logistics sector, under an Asean framework, to turn the kingdom into a regional logistics hub. Currently, the logistics service business is dominated by foreign players with local nominees.

Service liberalisation would take into account foreign business and the readiness of Thai firms, he added. The government will work out safeguard measures and give FTA fund assistance to uncompetitive sectors.

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