Thai PM arrives in Qatar on official visit to boost ties, investment

DOHA, Nov 24 (TNA) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived in Qatar for his three day visit to the country, starting bilateral talks with his Middle Eastern counterpart with an aim to expand cooperation between the two countries.

Mr Abhisit met his counterpart Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, prime minister of Qatar.

The two leaders witnessed the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a high level Thai-Qatari commission and the signing of an MoU between the two countries’ chambers of commerce.

Thailand wants to expand cooperation with Qatar in Halal food investment in the southern border provinces as well as in the agricultural sector, said Mr Abhisit.

Thai ambassador Suvat Chirapant said that the PM’s visit celebrates the 30th anniversary of Thai-Qatari relations.

Mr Suvat said Qatar is ready to expand cooperation with Thailand regarding natural gas trade and investment in health tourism and energy if Thailand has clear plans of cooperative projects.

Thailand can also send more labourers to Qatar where investment is expanding and the construction sector still needs more labour. Currently, he said, there are about 12,000 Thai workers in Qatar.

Qatar is also exploring investment in Thailand’s Halal food industry in the three Muslim majority southern border provinces.

As a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the country understands that the insurgent problem in south Thailand is not caused by religion and is ready to support Thailand to resolve the problem.

The Thai leader will be granted an audience with Qatar’s ruler HH Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani on Wednesday.

He will also meet Thai workers and the business community on Thursday, the last day of his visit. (TNA)