Thai PM ends visit to Maldives

MALDIVES, June 3 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ended her official visit to Maldives and plans to apply what she has learned to further develop Thailand's tourism to attract more international tourists with high purchasing power. Yingluck told TNA on Monday, after ending her official visit to Maldives, that her trip to the South Asian island state is considered successful, as Thai business operators have found business opportunities there, especially services for tourists with high purchasing power from several countries, and that she has also seen opportunities for Thai exports to Maldives. Besides, Yingluck said, Thai business operators now have more investment opportunities, as Maldives will grant concessions on about 14 more islands. The prime minister acknowledged that Thai investors will also have more opportunities in the energy sector in Maldives, including electricity generation from garbage, as Thailand's advance technologies in the field should interest Maldives, while Thai investors who invest in Maldives should earn high returns. Premier Yingluck was leaving Maldives and is scheduled to arrive in Thailand Monday evening. Accompanied by her entourage, including representatives of the Thai private sector, the Thai premier earlier paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from May 31-June 1 and continued her South Asian trip to Maldives, set from June 1-3. (TNA)