Thai PM granted audience with Belgian Crown Prince

BRUSSELS, March 6 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was granted an audience with Belgian Crown Prince Philippe, after her arrival in Belgium on Tuesday afternoon (local time) when she also opened a fair to celebrate the geographical indication (GI) registration for Thailand’s wellknown fragrant or Hom Mali rice. Ending her two-day official visit to Sweden earlier, Yingluck arrived in Belgium at 1:30pm local time, which is six hours behind Thailand's time, and first visited the fair in Brussels, Belgium's capital, where Thai farm products which win “Fair Trade” certification were exhibited. A highlight of the exhibition is Thailand’s Hom Mali rice, which has received the GI registration from the European Union (EU) since March 4, making the Thai fragrant rice become the first Asian product to obtain the GI registration in the 27-member EU. Such the GI registration in the 27-nation trade bloc has also been sought for Thailand's Doi Tung and Doi Chaang coffee to help promote exports of the Thai farm products to the EU. Yingluck later mentioned the exhibition at the Business Networking Reception and Luncheon of Thai and Belgian business operators, acknowledging that Thai products which have obtained “Fair Trade” certification and displayed at the event include organic rice, dried fruits and seasonings, and that about 6,000 Thai farmers have, so far, received the Fair Trade certification for their products. The Thai Premier was then granted an audience with Belgian Crown Prince Philippe, during which she extended best wishes to Belgian King Albert II and Queen Paola on behalf of the Thai people. The Thai Prime Minister and the Belgian Crown Prince appreciated bilateral relations between Belgium and Thailand, which have lasted for 145 years, and the Thai Premier also informed the Belgian Crown Prince of Thailand's readiness to welcome him on his third visit to the Kingdom from March 17-22, 2013, during which representatives of over 150 Belgian companies will also accompany him. Thailand and Belgium are expanding cooperation on trade, investment and tourism, as leading Belgian firms are investing in Thailand and over 90,000 Belgians visit the Thai Kingdom annually; while more than 3,000 Thai nationals live in Belgium. Accompanied by her entourage, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, the Thai Prime Minister is paying a four-day official visit to Sweden and Belgium from March 4-7. (TNA)