Oct. 19--The Honda group of companies is giving its full support to the candidacy of its top Thai executive, Adisak Rohitasune, for the chairmanship of the influential Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

A 36-year veteran of the Japanese automotive and industrial group, Mr Adisak is currently executive vice-president of the Bangkok-based Asian Honda Motor and managing director of Thai Honda Manufacturing.

"Since Honda has been doing business in Thailand for more than 40 years and also working closely with the FTI for a long time, Honda would like to give something back to society," said Pitak Pruthisarikorn, a director of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co.

"It's the unanimous consensus of our organisation to support Mr Adisak and such support does not mean that Honda intends to benefit from his position."

Mr Adisak has two main rivals for the leadership of the FTI, from which Santi Vilassakdanont will step down next year after completing the maximum allowed two two-year terms. They are to Payungsak Chartsutipol, executive vice-president of Siam United Steel, and Suraporn Simakulthorn, president of Kulthorn Kirby.

The Honda executive recently joined the race with a presentation at a Bangkok hotel, where he outlined his vision of short- and long-term solutions for strengthening Thai industries in the global arena.

"I want to see change, especially in ways to enhance the competitive edge of our industries up to that of other leading countries," he said.

At one time, he believes, Thailand's competitiveness was equivalent to that of Korea and Taiwan or even Malaysia, China and India. But Thailand now trails these countries while others that were once behind Thailand are closing the gap, he said.

As the world's production base is shifting to Asia -- especially China, India and Asean -- Thailand must accelerate revising its role and restructuring its industries to make them ready for future competition, he said.

The FTI's role is to co-operate with the government sector and co-ordinate with the business sector to collect and analyse information about the world economy, market opportunities and competitors to enhance Thai industries' competitive edge.

Mr Adisak vowed to help industries affected by the global crisis as part of the short-term solution if he won the election.

In his view, the most urgent problem is liquidity, especially for small industries that were worst hit by the downturn.