PM:Japanese investors are confident in Thailand's flood prevention plans

JAPAN, March 9 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday that Japanese investors appear to be confident in Thailand's flood prevention and rehabilitation packages for the private sector and to be ready to expand their businesses into the Thai economy. Premier Yingluck, who is paying an official visit to Japan from March 6-10, acknowledged that her ongoing trip to Japan is aimed at restoring the confidence of Japanese business persons and investors, as Japan is a key economic partner of Thailand and both Tokyo and Bangkok have developed sound bilateral relations for 125 years. Yingluck told journalists that her presentation appeared to have convinced Japanese business operators and investors, especially those in the automobile industry which has mainly generated revenues and economic growth, as well as created jobs in Thailand. According to the Thai premier, most Japanese business operators and investors have promised to maintain their businesses in Thailand and have sought for continual privileges, including import tariff reductions, from the Thai government. The Thai prime minister insisted that no Japanese investors had expressed an intention to relocate their production from Thailand, but promised to proceed with and even increase their investment in the Thai economy. Premier Yingluck also visited Japan's tsunami-hit Miyagi prefecture and saw double dykes along waterways, saying that she plans to apply the solution in Thailand to reduce flood damages. The Thai prime minister mentioned her meeting with her Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda, noting that she informed the Japanese premier of a case of Japanese cameraman Hiroyuki Muramoto, who was killed in political violence in Thailand in 2010, and that the Japanese prime minister was satisfied with actions taken by the Thai government. The Puea Thai premier said she promised with her Japanese counterpart that her government would guarantee justice for all parties affected by Thailand's previous political demonstrations and her administration has already approved financial assistance for the damaged parties, including the Japanese cameraman, and the process of compensation payment is under way, promising to keep the Japanese government informed of updates of the case.(TNA)