Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is scheduled to accompany the Prime Minister to the 41st World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, between 28-31 January 2011, where he will join leaders, elite business people, top academics and media attending the meeting. This year’s meeting comes under the theme of “Shared Norms for the New Reality”, reflecting the leaders’ concerns about the complexities and linkages between different issues after the economic crisis hit the global economy. Some of the issues discussed will involve values and ideologies once commonly held by the global community but are now in decline, as well as directions for economic growth and political stability in the future.
At the WEF, the Prime Minister is expected to express his vision on inclusive growth promotion policies in the post economic crisis period, while emphasizing the Thai Government’s leadership and direction in following through with policies aimed at creating social equality as well as empowering the people. The Prime Minister will also take the opportunity to explain Thailand’s policies in a number of sessions such as “Towards a New Growth Model”, “Social Contract for the 21st Century, and “Creating Shared Norms: The Century’s Leadership Challenge”.
The Prime Minister is also expected to point out the Thai private sectors’ strength in areas where Thailand is a market leader, such as the automotive sector, during sessions entitled “Thailand and Global Automotive Industry” and “Stabilizing Commodity Prices and Supply in a Resource-Constrained World”.
In addition, the Prime Minister will meet with a number of leading private sector executives as well as with Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF to discuss Thailand’s role as host of the World Economic Forum on East Asia in 2012 and cooperation between Thailand and the WEF in promoting Thailand’s competitiveness.
On 30 January 2011, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the Foreign Minister, will attend the 2011 Thai Ambassadors and Consuls-General to Europe Meeting to provide policy direction and exchange views with the 23 ambassadors and consuls-general convened. Issues expected to be raised include the promotion of economic, trade and investment relations between Thailand and Europe, Thai investment in Europe, sustainable development in Thailand, the learning of best practices and holistic knowledge from Europe and ways to promote Thailand’s image as well as a better understanding of Thailand among European government and media.
On completion of his duties in Switzerland, the Prime Minister will travel back to Thailand while the Foreign Minister will pay an official visit to Slovenia, from 31 January - 1 February 2011 at the invitation of Mr. Samuel Zbogar, Slovenian Foreign Minister. During the visit which is aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation, both sides will sign the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between Thailand and Slovenia, which will act as a framework to further promote trade and investment between the countries, especially the possibility of using Slovenia as a new gateway for Thailand’s trade with the European Union and the Balkan region. In addition to meeting with the Slovenian Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Kasit will meet academics and business people, as well as pay a courtesy call on Mr. Borut Pahor, Prime Minister of Slovenia, and the Chairman of the National Assembly.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th