Somkid to lead ministerial delegation to Japan
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is scheduled to visit Japan on June 4-8 to monitor the progress of the economic cooperation between the two countries on rail, high-speed trains, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the government’s 10 targeted industries and support to Thai small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to the five-day itinerary, Mr Somkid and the Transport, Commerce, Industry, the Digital Economy and Society (DE) ministers, as well as members of the Board of Investment, will pay a courtesy call to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on June 5.
A third meeting of the high-level joint commission will be also held on June 5 at Japan’s Government House to discuss possible EEC partnership, human resource development, rail development, the improvement of Thai SMEs, as well as a development master plan for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Mr Somkid is also scheduled on the same day to witness the signing of three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the Industrial Promotion Department and Fukushima prefecture on SME development; the Federation of Thai Industries and Fukushima prefecture on the development of medical equipment; and the National Science and Technology Development Agency and the Medical Device Industry Promotion Agency on medical development.
Mr Somkid will give a keynote speech at the Nikkei Forum on June 6 and a keynote speech on June 7 at the seminar “Thailand towards Asian Hub”, organised by the Japan External Trade Organisation.
In a separate development, the cabinet has given the green light to the Commerce Ministry and Science and Technology Ministry to sign an MoU on trade and digital collaboration at the first meeting of “One Belt One Road” organised in Beijing between May 14-15.
The cabinet on May 9 approved the draft documents for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China.
The first draft, entitled “Initiative on promoting unimpeded trade cooperation along the Belt and Road”, was proposed by the Commerce Ministry and the second draft, entitled “Appeal for stronger person-to-person connectivity along the Belt and Road”, came from the Science and Technology Ministry.
The first meeting of One Belt One Road is expected to have 200 high-ranking officials from 40 nations, including leaders from 28 nations and 100 ministers, and 80 representatives from international organisations.
The forum is expected to draw 1,200 participants, and centre on partnership in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, trade and investment.