MISSION TO JAPAN

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha starts an official visit to Japan today at the invitation of his counterpart Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The visit is the first by Gen Prayut to a G-7 country since the May 22 coup last year. The visit aims to improve relations economically and bolster Japan’s confidence in Thailand. Key highlights of PM Prayut’s visit include: Discussions with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on bilateral and regional issues. Meeting with Japanese MPs from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Meeting with the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Meetings with the top executives of key Japanese companies with investments in Thailand — Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Honda and Marubeni. Witness a signing ceremony of a memorandum of intent (MoI) on cooperation in railway systems development. Japan will help build three sections of the railway project – the East-West Economic Corridor railway route from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi (Ban Phu Nam Ron), the route from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo, and the route from Bangkok to Laem Chabang in Chon Buri. Signing of a memorandum of cooperation on business between the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) and the Joint Committee of Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers’ Association. Discussions on the Dawei project. Japan is expected to take part in the project and possibly offer soft loans for the construction of a 138km road between Dawei and the Thai border. Japan has agreed to hold an equal partnership in the Dawei SEZ Development Co (DSEZ) using a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) — a subsidiary company — to run the project. An audience with HRH Crown Prince Naruhito.