PM invites Singapore to invest in Thai SEZs

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has invited Singapore business operators to invest in special economic zones (SEZs) along the border, supported by the Thai government. Assistant Government Spokesman Colonel Athisit Chainuwat told journalists that the Thai prime minister made the invitation when he met visiting new Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan at Bangkok's Government House on March 28. The assistant spokesman said the Thai prime minister informed the Singpore foreign minister that Thailand also wants to learn more on the island state's experiences in developing digital economy and e-commerce. The assistant spokesman stated Dr. Balakrishnan, in turn, informed the Thai prime minister that Singapore hopes to expand cooperate with Thailand on luxury cruise tourism, as his island state believes in Thailand's potential to become a marina hub of the ASEAN Community (AC). Stressing that Singapore remains Thailand’s number two trading partner, Dr. Balakrishnan acknowledged Singapore wants to further expand bilateral trade relations with Thailand amid a global economic slowdown currently. According to the assistant spokesman, both sides also discussed regional security situation and the Thai prime minister expressed his government's readiness to exchange intelligence on international terrorism with Singapore, while the Singapore foreign minister mentioned his country's readiness to carry on the role as the ASEAN-China coordinator since August 2015, after Thailand, in an attempt to help settle lingering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The new Singapore foreign minister is paying an official visit to Thailand during March 28-29 to introduce himself and to co-chair the 12th Thai-Singapore Civil Service Exchange Programme Meeting in the Thai capital. (TNA)