Thaksin To Create Export Market In Africa

[Jai Dee]

PM TO OPEN UP MARKET FOR THAI GOODS IN AFRICA DURING HIS VISIT TO KENYA

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) is planning to create an export market in Africa for Thai goods during his visit to Kenya, while expressing confidence that trade between Thailand and Kenya will double within 3-4 years.

Prime Minister Thaksin will make official visits to Kenya and Turkey during November 8-12, to strengthen relations with leaders of the two countries. He will use this opportunity to forge closer cooperations with the two countries on economy, education, social and security.

The premier commented on his visit to Kenya, saying that he will attempt to open market for Thai products to African countries, focusing on agricultural products especially rice. He aims to increase trade value between the two countries by 200% within the next 3-4 years. The premier will also discuss alternative energy, academic cooperation on wild animal and agriculture. Thailand will also provide know-hows to the African country on sustainable economy, based on His Majesty the King's idea, to set an example for poor countries in Africa.

As for his visit to Turkey, Prime Minister Thaksin said that Turkey wants to study Thailand's economic development and want Thailand to invest in hotel business and Thai restuarants. Thailand will request that Turkey, which is moderate Muslim country, provide opportunity for Thai students to study theology there.

Prime Minister Thaksin and other delegates will travel from the military air base at 1 PM and will arrive in Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, Kenya, at around 5.50 PM local time or 11.50 PM Thailand time. He will deliver a speech and dine with representatives from private sectors in Kenya.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 November 2005

[sriracha john]

Hmmm... rather curious report... nothing in it at all about the REAL reason he's going to Kenya.... to get those wild African animals to stock the Chiang Mai safari world he's so keen about, despite all the protests surrounding it.

Those PR Dept. boys are adept at trying to keep everyone in the dark. The spin doctors are in full swing...

[snoophound]

Thai Students studying Theology in Turkey

Oh Well ,marginaly better than Iran I suppose.

Keep Thailand Buddhist.

PM TO OPEN UP MARKET FOR THAI GOODS IN AFRICA DURING HIS VISIT TO KENYA

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) is planning to create an export market in Africa for Thai goods during his visit to Kenya, while expressing confidence that trade between Thailand and Kenya will double within 3-4 years.

Prime Minister Thaksin will make official visits to Kenya and Turkey during November 8-12, to strengthen relations with leaders of the two countries. He will use this opportunity to forge closer cooperations with the two countries on economy, education, social and security.

The premier commented on his visit to Kenya, saying that he will attempt to open market for Thai products to African countries, focusing on agricultural products especially rice. He aims to increase trade value between the two countries by 200% within the next 3-4 years. The premier will also discuss alternative energy, academic cooperation on wild animal and agriculture. Thailand will also provide know-hows to the African country on sustainable economy, based on His Majesty the King's idea, to set an example for poor countries in Africa.

As for his visit to Turkey, Prime Minister Thaksin said that Turkey wants to study Thailand's economic development and want Thailand to invest in hotel business and Thai restuarants. Thailand will request that Turkey, which is moderate Muslim country, provide opportunity for Thai students to study theology there.

Prime Minister Thaksin and other delegates will travel from the military air base at 1 PM and will arrive in Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, Kenya, at around 5.50 PM local time or 11.50 PM Thailand time. He will deliver a speech and dine with representatives from private sectors in Kenya.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 November 2005

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Jai Dee]

PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO NAIROBI EXPECTED TO BE A BOOM FOR THAI INVESTORS

Thai investors are ready to invest in Kenya and in the African continent, as they are confident the Thai government would go for an all-out drive in the 'Africa Year'.

Lt. AKKHARASIT AMMATTAYAKUL (อัครสิทธิ์ อมาตยกุล), the Thai Ambassador to Nairobi, said the visit to Kenya by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his delegation is a good opportunity for the 2 countries to forge better relations, especially in the aspect of investment which did not exist in vast quantity at present.

Kenya is considered a gateway to Africa with its convenience being a center for shipments to nearby countries. Currently the Thai private sector has shown interest in investing in many fields in the country, such as the production of car parts, agricultural produce, and gems. The bilateral meeting help lead to better prospective for Thai investors.

Tomorrow a Thai trade & Investment Fair will be held in Village Market in the center of Nairobi. Prime Minister Thaksin and his delegation will also visit the fair.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 November 2005

[stoneman]

Suppose they might also be interested in a new mobile phone system or buying some space on a satellite?

[sriracha john]

Thai premier's visit to Kenya clouded by furore over wildlife export

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Kenya for an official visit aimed at boosting trade amid a furore over Kenya's controversial decision to send hundreds of wild animals to a zoo in Thailand.

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Thaksin, the first-ever Thai leader to visit Kenya, will focus on improving trade and bilateral cooperation, including negotiations with Kenya on textiles and rice, as well as on tourism development, officials said.

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But his three-day visit has been clouded by calls by conservationists who have urged Kenya to halt its plans to send some 300 animals, including endangered species, to the soon-to-be-opened Mae Hia Safari Park in Thailand's northern Chiang Mai province. I mistakenly referred to it as "Safari World" earlier, which of course is in BKK and has it's own highly dubious past.

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In return for the animals, Kenya would get experts on elephant training and one million dollars to boost conservation in the country.

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"We are urging our government to take into consideration values other than monetary compensation as the latter is incidental when it comes to our natural resources," said James Isiche, the regional director for International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

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The conservationists said Kenya's justification that it had abundant wildlife was flatly wrong.

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"The reality is that wildlife populations in Kenya today are generally on the decline due to threats arising from poaching, habitat loss and land use changes," Isiche added.

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They added that Kenya would be setting a bad precedent by exporting its wildlife, a move which may fray the east African nation's key tourism sector, which has suffered in the recent years owing to terrorism activities.

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"By shipping wildlife to Thailand, Kenya will be setting a dangerous precedent that may result in other requests for similar gifts from other states," according to a statement released by conservationists.

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"It is also self-defeatist in that Kenya is currently promoting tourism in Asia while giving wildlife to Thailand may discourage tourists from the Asian continent from setting foot in this country," the statement added.

— AFP

[Ricardo]

Last time I looked, Turkey was a secular country, with a high-percentage of muslims in the population. Not actually a muslim country per-se.

Wonder whether DL might find some cut-price pandas, for Chiang-Mai zoo ? Those africans sure are handy with a paint-brush and a standard-colour bear

I mean - people still think those zebras are a different species, for heavens' sake

[Jai Dee]

THAILAND TO BOOST KENYA'S ECONOMY

Prime Minister THAKSIN SHINAWATRA has indicated that Thailand is ready to cooperate with Kenya in boosting the economy. Both nations aim to become a competitive trade center for the continents of Asia and Africa.

The Thai Prime Minister made an official visit to Kenya yesterday evening, and dined with Commerce and Industry Minister of Kenya as well as other public agencies. Dr. THAKSIN said the purpose of his visit was to help Kenya in developing its products and services, so that this African nation can compete in the world market. Moreover, Thailand and Kenya will develop their bilateral partnership, which would benefits the countries in Asian and African regions. The Prime Minister said he wants both nations to be the commercial center of their regions. He added that the barter trade system will be also used to help develop investments between the two countries.

The Thai premier also commented on the establishment of funds to help reduce Kenya people’s debts, saying that they are necessary for many African nations. He added that the Kenyan government should manage job opportunities for its citizens, which would contribute to their revenues.

Today, Prime Minister THAKSIN is scheduled to have a meeting with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki at his Presidential Residence, and he will also witness the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between the two countries. Later, they will announce the results of their agreement.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 November 2005

[sriracha john]

STILL nothing about the dubious wild animal transfers?

Ignore a controversial topic and don't talk about it and it goes away, is that it, Maew?

[Jai Dee]

THAILAND AND KENYA HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT ON MANY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY ECONOMIC MATTERS

Thailand and Kenya have reached an agreement on many issues, especially economic matters. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawat (ทักษิณ ชินวัตร) has also expressed confidence that Kenya is a country with high potential in Africa if the country puts more effort in its management system.

Prime Minister Thaksin spoke about bilateral discussion with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki (มวย กีบากี) that the two countries agree to boost political and economic cooperation between the two countries. He said that Thailand will establish a trade center while bringing in businessmen to invest in 5-star hotel in Kenya. The hotel will feature Thai restaurants, Spas, and Otop shops, as it is intended to be a distribution center for Thai goods in the region.

The premier said that the two countries have not agreed on the purchase of Thai rice, but the produce will be made known to a wider public. He believes that Thailand will explore African market for Thai rice in the future.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan president would like to see more flights carried out between Kenya and Thailand. Prime Minister Thaksin accepted the request, as after the Suwannaphum airport can accommodate unlimited number of flights from Kenya.

As for the cooperation on wildlife conservation, the Prime Minister said that a research center will be established to study wildlife, and Kenya may exchange wild animals with Thailand. He reiterated that the animals will not be protected ones, as alleged by independent groups in Kenya.

Today, Prime Minister Thaksin will visit Thailand Exhibition 2005 at around 11 am local time. Then, the premier and his delegation will leave Nairobi to Turkey. They are scheduled to arrive in Turkey at 4.25 PM local time.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 November 2005

[brownsugar]

Kibaki signs away 175 animals to Thailand

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Standard Team and PPS

President Kibaki and Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shanawatra yesterday witnessed the signing of a pact by their Foreign Ministers, which will see Kenya export 175 wild animals to the Asian state.

Source : http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=31968

[OlRedEyes]

Kenya - gateway to Africa????

&lt;deleted&gt; is in Kenya... except animals of course ?

[Jai Dee]

THAILAND-KENYA / WILDLIFE AGREEMENT

PM: Deal saves animals from cull

A wildlife deal between Thailand and Kenya will benefit rather than harm exotic animals, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday. Speaking from Kenya, Mr Thaksin said the wild animals to be sent to Thailand could have been culled by Kenya to keep their populations under control.

"I don't want to argue with NGOs, so let me tell you that the animals destined for Thailand could have been killed. There're so many of them.

"Instead of slaughtering them, Kenya decided to send them to us for research and tourism purposes,'' he said.

Mr Thaksin was speaking after touring Maasai Mara, a wildlife sanctuary with an area covering 500 sq km _ the size of Singapore.

He said a total of 175 wild animals from 25 species, including 13 wildebeests and four hyenas, will arrive in Thailand early next year.

They will add to a wide collection of wild animals from Thailand and abroad to be showcased at the Chiang Mai Night Safari.

Mr Thaksin insisted the wild animal deal did not violate the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites).

Thailand is a signatory to Cites, which prohibits cross-border trade of listed wild animals, and trade is allowed only under exceptional conditions, such as for scientific study.

Thailand and Kenya signed an agreement on park and wildlife management on Nov 9, which included the establishment of a fund for training personnel.

In return for the animals, Kenya will receive expert elephant trainers and around 40 million baht to boost conservation in the country.

Mr Thaksin was greeted with a protest during his visit to a village market.

Around 20 animal rights activists were rallying against the wildlife deal.

Meanwhile, Surapon Duangkhae, secretary-general of Wildlife Fund Thailand, yesterday voiced concerns about the animals' health during transportation, which would take more than 20 hours.

He said the chances of survival for animals being smuggled into the country was 10%.

"If the animals are legally imported, their chance of survival is likely to be higher, depending on the care they receive. But it shouldn't exceed 50%,'' he said.

Source: Bangkok Post - Friday 11 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

Kenya defends wildlife deal with Thailand

NAIROBI, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Kenya defended plans to export 175 wild animals to a Thai zoo that enraged conservationists, saying on Thursday it would help attract tourists from the Asian nation.

During a visit this week by Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Kenya agreed to ship the beasts more than 7,000 km (4,350 miles) to jumpstart a tourism project in the Asian leader's home town.

Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua said the move would boost tourism also in the east African country.

"We expect the number of tourists from Thailand will double or triple if they see the animals," he said. "They will want to see them in their natural surroundings." He said Kenya will get technical help and training on wildlife management in return, and denied media reports the Thai government paid up to $1 million for the exotic creatures.

"The government of Thailand is not paying one cent or one shilling for these animals," Mutua told reporters in Nairobi.

No date has been set for the animals' departure, he added.

The exotic creatures include giraffes, buffaloes, flamingos and gazelles, and while no rhinos or other endangered animals are involved, the move has angered conservationists.

"This stinks very, very badly," Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey told Reuters.

"Collecting wild animals for export to zoos is deplorable, but the government has made this decision without any reference to the experts. It is mayhem and it is utterly disgusting."

Leakey, who headed the Kenya Wildlife Service between 1989 and 1994, questioned whether conditions would be adequate at the zoo, which is due to open in April in Thaksin's home town Chiang Mai.

"Zoos are very poor places generally," Leakey said.

PROTESTS

Thaksin, who was on a three-day official visit in Kenya, flew to the Masai Mara game reserve on Wednesday to watch elephants, lions and zebra roam the grassy savannah.

"There is a lot of misunderstanding here," he told reporters on Thursday during a visit to an upmarket Nairobi shopping mall.

"If you go (to Chiang Mai) you will understand it better and you will see, and those who criticise and attack without knowing will feel sorry about what they have said."

Outside the mall, dozens of protesters including women in traditional Masai dress waved placards including: "Wild animals need freedom" and "Conservation not exploitation".

"We are here because we want to protest and stop the exportation of our beloved wildlife," said Peter Londesati a Masai elder from Kajiado district, in Kenya's Rift Valley.

"We as the community are not being consulted."

Thailand has come under fire for its poor wildlife protection record, and remains one of the world's leading trafficking routes for animal smugglers, with several privately owned zoos accused of illegally obtaining orang-utans and other rare species.

Source: Reuters

[Jai Dee]

PM THAKSIN CALLS FOR THAI-KENYAN AGREEMENT ON TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROTECTION

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called on the Kenyan government to conclude an agreement on trade and investment protection with Thailand in order to attract more Thai investors.

The call was made during Prime Minister Thaksin’s official visit to Kenya from November 9th to 10th, 2005. Speaking upon his return from a tour of Kenya and Turkey yesterday morning (Nov 12), Mr. Thaksin said he had urged Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to accelerate the conclusion of a cooperation agreement which includes prevention of double taxation, between the two countries.

Prime Minister Thaksin said that he met with the Kenyan President both on four-eye and plenary bases. Their discussions focussed on the strategic guideline which both countries would follow in order to make each other gateways to respective regions. Prime Minister Thaksin said Thailand would set up funds for Kenyan officials to observe agricultural and bureaucratic development here, in response to Kenyan request. The Thai private sector would be urged to team up with the Kenyan counterpart in establishing five-star hotels in Kenya to serve international conferences and act as outlets for Thai goods. Both countries also agreed to increase direct flights by their flag carriers, once Suvarnabhumi Airport is in operation. More negotiations will be conducted on a possibility to reduce import tariff on Thai rice to Kenya.

In his weekly radio talk yesterday morning, Prime Minister Thaksin unveiled his roadmap of Thai trade with the African continent. He said he has eyed Kenya as a springboard for Thai goods to the eastern part of the continent, Nigeria to the western side, and South Africa to the southern region. He commented that in approaching those countries, it was necessary to learn their economic, social and political aspects. The Prime Minister has already announced 2005 as the year to invade Africa. However, due to his plentiful engagements both in the country and abroad, Prime Minister Thaksin said Kenya is the first and only African country he managed to visit this year.

According to him, Kenya is considered the centre of the eastern African region because of its roles in international arena with several UN agencies based there. Its people love Thai goods and eat Thai rice. Unfortunately, Kenya has been ordering Thai goods through middle agents in Dubai. He said his visit provided a good opportunity for businesspersons of both countries to meet and to encourage direct trade transactions in the future.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันอาทิตย์ที่ 13 พฤศจิกายน 2548