Thailand and the United Kingdom to Initiate Strategic Dialogue

Thailand and the United Kingdom will initiate the establishment of “Strategic Dialogue” as a new mechanism to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation.

The issue will be discussed and approved by the Prime Ministers of both countries during the official visit of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to the United Kingdom on 12-14 November 2012.

Thai Government’s People-Centered Policies, Enabling All to Benefit from Growth and Stability

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stated that the Thai government has launched a wide range of people-centered policies to make sure that the benefits of growth and stability are enjoyed by all.

Reds confirm no 'counter-rally'

Leaders of the red-shirt movement confirmed Sunday the group will not hold a counter-rally to Pitak Siam’s second anti-government protest at the Royal Plaza on Nov 24.

Water shortages hit 12 provinces

More than 7,000 villages in 12 provinces have been hit by water shortages since Oct 1, officials have reported.

Exhibition in Honor of the “Father of Royal Rainmaking” and Efforts to Ease Drought

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will organize an exhibition in honor of His Majesty the King, who is recognized as the “Father of Royal Rainmaking.” It is also stepping up efforts to ease the drought situation in many provinces.

The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of the Late Queen Sri Savarindira

Thailand has launched year-long celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the birth of the late Queen Sri Savarindira, the Queen Grandmother of Thailand.

Her Majesty Queen Sri Savarindira is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the world’s great personalities.

The year-long celebrations began in September 2012 and will run through September 2013. The Thai government has organized various activities and projects to celebrate this special occasion in Thailand. It has also joined hands with UNESCO in organizing exhibitions in Paris and Chicago, featuring the Queen’s life and work.

New Investment Strategies

The Board of Investment (BOI) has launched new investment strategies, with an emphasis on promoting various sectors of the creative industry and environmentally friendly practices.

BOI Secretary-General Udom Wongviwatchai said that the strategies were intended to attract more investment in target industries and investment projects classified as industries of the future.

Thailand International Education Expo to Showcase Thailand’s Potential as a Study Destination for Asian Students

The Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, in cooperation with international institutions from the public and private sectors will organize “Thailand International Education Expo: The 10th TIEE” to show the potential and readiness of Thailand for becoming an international education center in the Asian region.

New Decade of Village and Urban Community Fund

The Government has stressed its policy of promoting the Village and Urban Community Fund to help provide greater employment opportunities for various communities.

Highlighting Rule of Law and International Legal Cooperation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has highlighted the topics of the rule of law and international legal cooperation in her remarks at the 17th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors.

The event, scheduled for 28 October – 2 November 2012, takes place at the Bangkok Convention Center, CentralWorld, in Bangkok, with 200 participants from 70 countries. The theme of the conference is “Transnational Organized Crime.”

Loi Krathong Festival 2012

Held annually, Loi Krathong is one of the most beautiful Thai festivals, and it is a time to give thanks to the goddess of waters and to seek forgiveness for past misdeeds. It occurs at night during the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. This year the event falls on November 28. 

Loi literally means “to float,” while Krathong refers to the lotus-shaped vessels containing candles, incense and flowers which participants float down rivers and on lakes and ponds everywhere.

The Second TL-VN Joint Cabinet Retreat to be held in Hanoi

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, accompanied by relevant Cabinet members, will visit Vietnam for the second Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat, scheduled for 26-27 October 2012 in Hanoi.

Developing OTOP Brands to Bring out the Uniqueness of Thai Community Products

All provinces in Thailand have been urged to develop and promote the identities of their community products under the “One Tambon One Product,” or OTOP, program.

Prime Minister on a Visit to Kuwait for the First ACD Summit

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is on a visit to the State of Kuwait to attend the first summit of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), scheduled for 15-17 October 2012.

The Prime Minister will take this opportunity to pay an official visit to Kuwait on October 17 to strengthen bilateral relations and increase trade and investment opportunities between Thailand and Kuwait.

Don’t turn your back on Vietnam

Foreign investment in Vietnam has dropped by about a third since September 2011, with some blaming a weakening economy, inflation, high debt, and the fallout from a property market crash.

These economic woes have also led to political tensions between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and President Troung Tan Sang. These may surface at the Communist Party’s Central Committee meeting currently taking place, and there will certainly be discussions during the meeting about how the weakening Vietnamese economy can be recharged.

Thailand Unlikely to Face Excessive Flooding in 2012

Thailand is unlikely to face prolonged and widespread floods in 2012. Even so, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed the authorities concerned to monitor the situation closely.

The Prime Minister, during the Cabinet meeting on 9 October 2012, thanked relevant agencies for their efficient water management in accordance with guidelines set by the Single Command Center.

Thailand’s Investment Growth and Its Developed Infrastructure Making ASEAN More Attractive to Investors

Investment in Thailand continues to grow at a satisfactory level. The country’s developed infrastructure contributes to ASEAN, making the region more attractive to investors. 

A report from the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) shows that the number of investment project applications from January to September 2012 exceeded the set target. Investors sought BOI promotional privileges for a total of 1,583 projects, valued at 804 billion baht, during the nine-month period.

Water Conservation for the Mother of the Land

The Government is proceeding with the project known as Water Conservation for the Mother of the Land, in response to Her Majesty the Queen’s wishes for natural resource and environmental conservation.

More Thai Fruit to Be Exported to Asian Markets

Thailand is promoting exports of more Thai fruit to other Asian markets, after it has been successful in increasing its fruit and vegetable exports to China.

Asia has been cited as a region where Thai fruit is better-known among consumers than it is in other parts of the world.

Promoting Thailand as a Sports Regional Center

Promoting Thailand as a sports regional center has been cited as one of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ achievements during the past year.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, during the period, the Ministry has constructed provincial stadiums in seven provinces, namely Maha Sarakham, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Phetchabun, Amnat Charoen, Samut Prakan, and Narathiwat. At district level, stadiums were also constructed in 21 districts nationwide.