Down on Motown
Reporters on the Job: For the story on how workers in Asia are dealing with the economic crisis, I reported from Rayong, an industrial province east of Bangkok, Thailand, that exports much of what it produces and is hurting as global trade collapses. (Read the story here.)
At one industrial estate that is dominated by the auto industry, a huge sign over the entrance announces that you鈥檙e entering 鈥淭he Detroit of Asia.鈥� It鈥檚 a tag that underlines Thailand鈥檚 ambition to become a regional auto center. It鈥檚 already the world鈥檚 second biggest pickup producer, after the US. Around 400,000 people are employed in the industry, including those in spare parts and sales.
But these days, I鈥檝e noticed that the Thai government is playing down the Detroit association and is now talking about becoming the Nagoya of Southeast Asia, with an eye to Toyota鈥檚 home ground. Detroit is a symbol of auto ambition, for sure. But right now it鈥檚 also a byword for financial troubles.
