Twelve safety and security companies from the Nordic countries toured the Philippines and Thailand the past week, showcasing the latest products and solutions in this growing niche.
“We witness the dark sides of globalisation, facing more international crime and terrorism. And I have to be honest with you and say ‘unfortunately’ the market you work in is growing, but I still wish you all luck in this seminar,” said Finland’s ambassador to Thailand, Heikki Tuunanen when he welcomed exhibitors and guests to the Bangkok part of Nordic Secure as this event is called.
Attendance in Bangkok was high, with a large audience from the armed forces and the police, plus a number of private organizations, like banks, looking for improved protection.
Thailand’s Minister of Interior, Bhokin Bhalakula, opened the seminar picking up were Heikki Tuunanen left and asked for stronger cooperation between the Nordic countries and Thailand to confront the new threats by sharing technology and know how.
Minister Bhokin did also give some examples of how this kind of state of the art technology is implemented in new Thai projects.
“By 2006 all 65 million Thai citizens will have their old identity cars replaced by new id/smart cards which contain the holder’s personal information and fingerprints. And at the new Suvarnabhumi international airport security equipment such as x-ray machines, fire alarm systems, baggage screening machines, rescue devices etc will be installed to ensure safety for all.”
Several of the visiting companies were in the two countries for the first time, exploring the business opportunities.
One of them, Telesystem, showed a line of light weight bullet proof vests which caught the eye of Bhokin Bhalakula.
“I should have one of these when I go to the south,” said the Minister of Interior with a wry smile, while touching a bullet proof vest from the Swedish supplier.
Just hours later news broke that the outlawed separatist organisation Pulo had posted a name list on ‘wanted’ high Thai officials in the south, with portraits and price tags for a kill of them, on its website. A true but unfortunate illustration of the dark side of globalisation Finland’s ambassador referred to in his opening remarks.
