Thailand's 3rd anniversary of Women’s Development Fund

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, August 10 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stressed on the significance of her government-sponsored Women’s Development Fund Programme, saying that she is willing to listen to public opinions on how to further develop the role of Thai women on a sustainable basis. Yingluck made the remarks on Saturday morning while she presided over an event celebrating the programme, which enters its third anniversary, and to also celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 81st birthday, which falls on August 12. The event was held at the Impact Trade and Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok. Yingluck acknowledged more than 500,000 underprivileged Thai women have received assistance from the programme, while some 40,000 women development projects related to industry, agriculture and handicraft have been approvals. The prime minister said Thai women of new generations will also be selected for the ‘Smart Lady Thailand’ programme, aimed at boosting their roles in the lead-up to the ASEAN Community (AC), set to be formed by 2015. According to the Thai prime minister, applications are now open for Thai women, aged between 18-35, and only 12 of them will be selected for a one-month training programme. The prime minister revealed that only one lady will later be selected finally to become the most efficient woman in Thailand and join the programme. (TNA)