Thailand, Montenegro ink deal on visa waiver for officials

BANGKOK, September 15 (TNA) - Thailand and Montenegro have signed an agreement on visa exemption for diplomats and government officials of the two countries during Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s recent visit to the European country. Concluding her trip to Montenegro on Saturday, the final leg of her official visits to four European countries, Yingluck, who returned home on Sunday morning, acknowledged that Montenegro is a potential market for Thai business operators, as it is a gateway to Europe and the Balkans region. During her visit, Yingluck told journalists, Thailand and the emerging Eastern European nation also inked another pact on bilateral business cooperation. The Thai prime minister, who is also Defence Minister concurrently, expressed her satisfaction with her official trip to Montenegro, where she promoted business opportunities for Thai investors, including in infrastructure development projects covering its airports and sea ports expansions, as well as tourism-related businesses, as the country is preparing to become a new member of the now 27-member European Union (EU) bloc. The prime minister also recommended Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those who produce local Thai products and those in service, tourism and hotel sectors, to explore more business rooms in Montenegro. The Thai premier officially visited Switzerland, Italy, the Vatican City and Montenegro from September 8-15, 2013 to promote bilateral ties and cooperation between Thailand and these countries. (TNA)