Thailand Live Sunday 9 Jun 2013

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Great Potential for Thailand’s Investment in the Maldives

Great potential has been seen for Thailand’s investment in the Maldives. The two countries have agreed to promote investment in many areas and boost bilateral tourism cooperation.

Speaking in the weekly program “Yingluck Government Meets the People,” on 8 June 2013, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra referred to her official visit to the Maldives on 1-3 June 2013, when Thai business people accompanying the Prime Minister discussed investment opportunities with their Maldivian business counterparts.

She cited the Maldives as one of Thailand’s important trading partners. Thailand imports tuna mainly from the Maldives, which also imports many products from Thailand. The Maldives is a popular tourism destination among Thai tourists, as well.

In 2012, trade between the two countries came to 109.17 million US dollars. About 100,000 Maldivian tourists visited Thailand in the same year, an increase of 30 percent over the previous year. Thailand has encouraged its private sector to invest more in the Maldives, especially in food processing, infrastructure development, construction, and hospitality-related businesses.

On this occasion, Thailand and the Maldives signed several memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various fields, including fishery, tourism, education, and public health. Since many Maldivian residents have sought medical services in Thailand, the Prime Minister said that Thailand could become a medical hub for Maldivian people in the future.

Thailand is investing in the development of the Dawei deep-sea port in Myanmar. She said that the project will connect with the Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Thailand and that, in the future, it will connect with the Indian Ocean and then the Maldives. She told Maldivian leaders that the project would be of great benefit, as it would facilitate travel and reduce transportation costs.

Prime Minister Yingluck also discussed with President of the Maldives Mohamed Waheed the plan to double bilateral trade between the two countries within the next five years. Thailand hopes to increase its exports of agricultural and halal products to the Maldives. It also learned from the Maldives’ success in long-stay tourism management and natural resource conservation in tourism sites. Both countries would also cooperate in water management.

During the visit, the Thai business delegation attended a presentation on investment opportunities in the Maldives, followed by a networking session between Thai and Maldivian business people. Several Thai companies have already invested in hotel and restaurant businesses and property development in that country.

Thailand proposed a three-year Country Program, 2014-2016, for the Maldives. Under the program, both countries will cooperate more closely in the fields of agriculture, public health, and human resource development. The Maldives showed interest in the “One Tambon, One Product,” or OTOP, program and asked Thailand for cooperation in developing community products and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department, Office of the Prime Minister

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RT@RichardBarrow: 4:20pm Barricades have been put up in front of ZEN to stop White Mask protesters using that area pic.twitter.com/0VhVsLruJv

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Customs Dept at Suvarnabhumi Airport arrests 2 Iranians who swallowed 1 kg of crystal meth worth Bt3.5 mln /MCOT

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RT@RichardBarrow: 4:52pm White Masks now marching along the pavement from CentralWorld towards Paragon/Siam Square shouting anti-Thaksin slogans http://t.co/AeYq1MG5RZ

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Islamic leaders in Deep South urge Thai govt to ask BRN in June 13 peace talks to stop insurgent attacks in upcoming Ramadan from July-Aug /MCOT

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RT@RichardBarrow: Panorama picture of 2,500-3,000 White Mask protesters หน้ากากขาว in front of BAAC. More still coming #Bangkok pic.twitter.com/6ioIe6Zlut

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Islamic religious leaders urge BRN to stop insurgent attacks during Ramadan holy month
By Digital Media

NARATHIWAT, June 9 - Islamic religious leaders in Thailand's restive southern region on Sunday urged the Thai government to negotiate with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) to stop insurgent attacks during the upcoming Ramadan as the third round of peace talk will be held this week.

The demand came as secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) Pol Col Thawee Sodsong met with imam, or Islamic religious leaders, from 634 mosques in Narathiwat's 13 districts to hear their views on the BRN five-point demands before Thai authorities meet with the BRN representatives again in the Malaysian capital on June 13.

The Islamic committees in the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have conducted surveys among the religious leaders on the BRN demands and compiled the views to submit to the SBPAC today.

In the survey results, most of imam said they agreed with and accepted Malaysia as the mediator for the peace talks.

The religious leaders also proposed to Col Thawee to convey their demands to the BRN representatives on Thursday to stop conducting the attacks during the upcoming one-month Ramadan which will be from July 7 to August 7 this year.

They said about 80 per cent of the population in the region are Muslims and they have to observe fasting and maintain proper behaviour.

The imam also urged that both sides--the Thai government and the BRN--to take one step back to find fair and concrete solutions in the upcoming peace dialogue. The process could also be done gradually until they reach a mutual agreement to create peace in the violence-plagued provinces. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-06-09

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Customs Dept arrests 2 Iranians smuggling 1 kg of crystal meth in stomachs
By Digital Media

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645472-suvarnabhumi-customs-arrests-2-iranians-smuggling-1-kg-of-crystal-meth-in-stomachs/

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to continue:

Thailand Live Monday 10 Jun 2013

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645471-thailand-live-monday-10-jun-2013/