Thai PM arrives in Tanzania

BANGKOK, July 31 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has arrived in Tanzania, where Thailand's investment in several sectors, including energy, hospital and hotel businesses, is welcome. Shortly after her arrival in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's capital, for an official visit on Tuesday afternoon (local time), Yingluck met Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who invited the Thai business persons to expand their investment into his nation. Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi, who is also accompanying the Thai Prime Minister, told journalists that the Tanzanian President also asks for Thailand's cooperation in agricultural processing products and jewellery cutting, while the visiting Thai Prime Minister agreed to encourage Thai business operators to widen trade and investment in Tanzania. According to the spokesman, Tanzania and Thailand also agreed to cooperate on tourism and service sectors, including hotel, restaurant, spa and medical services. During the talks, the spokesman said, the Thai Premier also stressed on strengthening bilateral relations through the Thai-African Initiative, while the Tanzanian President told her that his country is ready to attend the High Level Thai-African Dialogue session, to be hosted by Thailand in February 2014. Yingluck becomes the first Thai Prime Minister to officially visit Tanzania since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1980. Yingluck is on six-day official visits to Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda from July 28-August 2. Her trip to Tanzania is the second leg of her ongoing visit to the Eastern African region, after Mozambique but before Uganda. (TNA)