On 12 January 2010, Mr. Damrong Kraikruan, Consul General of Thailand in Los Angeles (LA), accompanied the leaders of Thai community in LA to visit the Foreign Ministry and held a seminar on “Strengthening Thai communities in the US, and development of Thai Town in LA.”
The Thai Consul General in LA stressed the importance of Thais overseas, particularly those in LA which is the largest Thai community abroad and has so called “Thai Town” as its landmark. Since the Thai communities overseas can play a constructive role in implementing Thailand’s foreign policy, especially in promoting cultural image and being a gateway for tourism, trade, and investment to Thailand, Mr. Damrong proposed that the Royal Thai Government help strengthen the Thai communities overseas, support them in building their distinctive cultural identity, and encourage more Thai private sector to participate in investment projects in the community, particularly in the real estate sector, to enhance business opportunities for Thais overseas.
On this occasion, Mr. Gorpat Henry Charoen, Councilmember of the City of La Palma who is the first Thai American elected official in the US, talked about the significance of participation in political activities of foreign communities’ representatives. He emphasized that such political participation would help addressing the problems and needs of the foreign communities for their well-being to the local government. He also urged the Thais overseas to play more active role in the local political activities.
Mrs. Chanchanit Martorell, Executive Director of the Thai Community Development Center, who has an active role in establishing “Thai Town” elaborated history and development of this landmark. The “Thai Town” was first founded to support the economic development and promote self-sufficiency of the Thai immigrants in LA. The place currently runs various projects aiming to promote housing, small business investment, job and employment training, and facilities for the Thai community.
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