Thai PM officially visits Qatar

BANGKOK, May 15 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to pay an official visit to Qatar from May 15-17, aimed to boost relations between Thailand and the Middle East, covering the promotion of Thai halal food products for the sake of Thai farmers as well as the exploration of more rooms for Thai trade, investment and construction services in the region. Yingluck told journalists Tuesday that during her three-day visit to Qatar, she would discuss Thailand's imports of energy from the Gulf state and invite Qatar to expand investment in Thai industries to help boost the Thai economy. As Qatar will host the World Cup in 2022, Yingluck said that she will also visit Qatar's football stadiums and discuss opportunities for Thai contractors and construction workers to be part of Qatar's preparations for relevant facilities, and that she will also introduce Thai halal food products to the Middle East to benefit Thai farmers. Apart from official talks between Thai and Qatar authorities during the Thai premier's trip to Doha, over 50 Thai business operators will meet their Qatar counterparts, especially those in the construction sector, and will also visit Qatar's health service centers to gather information beneficial to Thailand's plan on developing the Kingdom as an international health service center in the future. (TNA)