Thai DPM visits Hong Kong

BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is leading a Thai business delegation to visit Hong Kong during April 26-29, aimed to attract more investment projects from the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR). Prior to his departure on Wednesday, Somkid, who oversees economic affairs,told journalists that he and his entourage, including officials from the Thai Ministries of Commerce and Industry, as well as those from the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) and representatives from the private sector, will organize a roadshow in Hong Kong to invite more Hong Kong business operators to invest in Thailand. Somkid said Hong Kong is now the third largest foreign investor in Thailand and China wants Hong Kong to play more key role by expanding its investment in the Thai economy as part of Beijing's One Belt One Road Policy. According to the deputy premier, Hong Kong business operators have expressed their interest in investing in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridors (EEC). The deputy prime minister revealed that he and his delegation plan to discuss on establishing e-commerce networks between Thai and Hong Kong businesses as well, particularly those running small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Besides, Hong Kong is now the top importer of Thai rice; so, he and his team will explore more opportunities to sell more Thai rice to the Hong Kong market. The deputy prime minister noted that Thailand wants to be the first trading partner to hold talks with the new governor of the Hong Kong SAR, Carrie Lam, who will take her new office shortly. (TNA)