AFFECTED FOREIGN FIRMS

Japan seeks urgent relief for affected companies

The Nation

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has requested three urgent relief measures to help Japanese companies in Thailand recover from the severe flooding.

During his meeting with his counterpart Surapong Towichakchaikul at the 23rd Apec Summit in Hawaii, Gemba asked the government to provide electricity and water to Japanese factories, waive import duties on equipment brought in to replace damaged equipment and reduce red-tape for officials who will be deployed to assist Japanese companies.

He also expressed readiness to provide full support for Thailand to overcome the massive inundation.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has skipped the Apec confab due to the present crisis.

However, she will leave the country on Thursday to join the Asean leaders' meeting in Indonesia, a source said yesterday.

On Wednesday before her trip, Yingluck will welcome United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the morning.

In the evening, she will host US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, according to her schedule.

Yingluck will take the opportunity to seek help from both the United Nations and the United States to battle the severe deluge that has wreaked havoc in the country.

Clinton is expected to raise cooperation in disaster mitigation for both the short and long terms as well as discuss the situation in the region.

Yingluck is expected to promote Bangkok as a regional hub for UN offices and international agencies.

Ban is due to arrive on Wednesday. A press conference will be held after his meeting with Yingluck. He will also visit flood victims in some areas before leaving on Thursday for the fourth Asean-UN summit in Bali.

After stopping in Bangkok, Clinton will travel on to Bali to attend the East Asia Summit and US-Asean Leaders meeting from Thursday-Saturday. Barack Obama will be the first US president to take a full seat alongside major powers China and Japan.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

"Yingluck is expected to promote Bangkok as a regional hub for UN offices and international agencies."

Oh goody!

Thailand is now a hub for offices.

Edited November 14, 201114 yr by Phatcharanan

It would seem someone is going to grovel to the U.S now with an open hand out for help,

pity they did not take the U.S up on their offer of help before when it could have been used when the flooding first started?

oh well what happened to saving face?

There are always people who decide they could have done much better themselves in any crisis. Maybe if we were more supportive she could have done things with a clearer mind. She is up against a lot more than water and garbage.Many are using these as a tool against her.

"Yingluck is expected to promote Bangkok as a regional hub for UN offices and international agencies."

All buildings are guaranteed to come with life boats and a year's supply of drinking water.