SKorea, Thailand celebrate 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations

BANGKOK, May 15 (TNA) - South Korea and Thailand celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, with South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) Paik Un-gyu leading an over 150-member delegation to visit Bangkok this week. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Deputy Secretary General of the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), under the Ministry of Industry, told journalists that the large South Korean delegation, comprising of representatives of government agencies and about 70 leading business firms, is scheduled to visit Thailand during May 16-17 as part of the two countries' celebration of their 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Narit said the South Korean delegation will then attend a seminar, entitled “Korea-Thailand 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations: Maekyung Thailand Forum”, organized by the Maekyung Media Group, a leading South Korean business media firm, at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok on May 17, in which senior Thai government officials and private business executives will also participate to exchange their views and explore expanding investment opportunities between the two countries. Narit acknowledged that Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Kobsak Pootrakool, Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Pichet Durongkaveroj will also deliver their speeches on promising investment prospect in Thailand, especially in the government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project at Thursday's seminar. Besides, a roundtable meeting between South Korean and Thai business executives, as well as representatives from BOI and the EEC Office will be held at Thursday's forum to discuss expanding trade and investment opportunities between Seoul and Bangkok, particularly in science and innovative industrial projects. Narit revealed that at Thursday's forum, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBio), the Thai Ministry of Industry and BOI will also be signed by KoreaBio Chairman Jeong-Sun Seo, Thai Permanent Secretary for Industry Pasu Loharjun and BOI Secretary-General Duangjai Asawachintachit, witnessed by Thai Minister Kobsak, aimed to promote and support more South Korean-Thai investment projects in the biotechnological sector, especially in EEC and smart cities in Thailand, and cooperation on other joint business activities, namely seninars and business matching events. According to the BOI deputy chief, leading South Korean companies have invested more than 230 projects in Thailand since 2010, totally worth more than 38.8 billion baht, mostly in the domestic electronic and heavy industrial sectors. (TNA)