Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Republic of Korea and Hong Kong SAR during February 24-26, 2013. PM is invited by President-Elect Park Geun-hye to attend her presidential inauguration ceremony. After South Korea, she will travel to Hong Kong SAR as invited by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

   Her visit to the Republic of Korea during February 24-25, 2013 is by the invitation of the President-Elect Park Geun-hye to attend her presidential inauguration ceremony which is another significant event that showcases women’s empowerment in the administration of state affairs. PM Yingluck will take this opportunity to congratulate the first female President of Korea and will call on President-Elect Park Geun-hye to join hands in promoting women’s empowerment development in the region. PM Yingluck will also reaffirm the incoming President of South Korea being Thailand’s “Strategic Partner”, an initiative during the regime of President Lee Myung-bak, and Thailand’s intent to work with South Korea on the goal of US$13,000-million mutual trade volume in 5 years, as agreed earlier with the outgoing President. Furthermore, this year marks the 55th year of diplomatic relations between Thailand and South Korea. With South Korea’s considerable success in water management, PM Yingluck also plans to invite the new South Korean President to attend the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit (2nd APWS) hosted by Thailand in May 2013.

   PM Yingluck will also pay a courtesy call on the outgoing President Lee Myung-bak at the presidential residence to thank him for his constant effort to strengthen mutual relations between the two countries and to bid farewell, and attend dinner hosted by the Speaker of South Korean’s National Assembly, Mr. Kang Chang-hee, in honor of the Thai Prime Minister.

   Later on February 25-26, 2013, PM Yingluck will make a state visit to Hong Kong SAR as invited by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying. PM will take the opportunity to stress on investment opportunities in Thailand formulated under the national strategies in order to draw leading investors and financiers from Hong Kong, and will also present Thailand’s potentiality as the regional connectivity hub.

PM’s schedule in Hong Kong SAR is as follows:

·      Meeting with Hong Kong’s executive-level bankers and financiers

·      Meeting with leading travel companies to promote Thailand’s tourism

·      Bilateral Meeting with Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying who has recently assumed the position. PM Yingluck will reaffirm mutual relations and cooperation on trade and investment promotion.

   In addition, Ministry of Finance together with the Board of Investment of Thailand will hold a parallel event under the theme “Hong Kong Roadshow “Thailand’s Strategies: A Road Map for Real Opportunities”. The event’s activities include a keynote speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong on investment opportunities in Thailand formulated under the national strategies, a seminar to promote investment in Thailand, and meetings between Thailand’s executive bankers and financiers and the Hong Kong’s counterparts.