On 26 February 2013, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived at the Government Office of Hong Kong SAR for a bilateral meeting with Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying. Gist of the meeting is as follows:

   PM Yingluck first congratulated Mr. Leung Chun-Ying for his assumption of the office as Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR since last year, and marveled Hong Kong for being a global financial center and its robust economy. PM Yingluck would like to take the chance to reaffirm Hong Kong of Thailand’s capability with political stability that favored investment activities. The Thai Government was also working on the reconciliation plan to boost more confidences from foreign investors. On economy, the Thai Government emphasized on comprehensive policies that constantly promoted the country’s economy. This year, it was expected that the growth rate of Thai economy would be 4.5-5.5%. The Thai Government especially gave priority to investment of the private sector, increase of employment, maintaining the status of an open market, and developing new areas of trade and investment, as well as foreign direct investment (FDI) particularly on the advanced technology and environmental-friendly industries which are part of the national strategies. According to PM Yingluck, within the next 7 years, the Government planned to invest on large-scale infrastructure development with the total value of 2,200,000 million Baht, and water management projects (of 350,000 million Baht in value). Projects with much interest included high-speed railway project connecting Bangkok and the northern, northeastern, western, and southern parts of the country, and the expansion of Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

   Furthermore, the Thai Government had also plan to construct a motorway from Bangkok to Myanmar border areas to further connect with Dawei deep sea port. PM Yingluck and Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive also discussed and exchanged views on mutual trade and investment development. Hong Kong is considered a gateway to China with commercial, logistics, investment, services, financial and banking capacities, and Thailand and Hong Kong SAR agreed to take advantage of each other’s capacities and potentiality for the best interest of both.

   On this occasion, there was a signing of Cooperation Arrangement on strengthening trade and economic relations between Thailand and Hong Kong. The Arrangement would be an important mechanism to enhance Thai-Hong Kong cooperation in various aspects such as trade, services, investment, tourism, and SMEs. Moreover, Thai rice would also be promoted in Hong Kong, an important and potential market, as well as people-to-people relations since Thailand is also a popular destination for Hong Kong tourists and vice versa.

   After the bilateral discussion, PM Yingluck and Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying witnessed a signing of Cooperation Arrangement on strengthening trade and economic relations between Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom of Thailand and Hong Kong’s Commerce and Economic Development Minister Gregory So. The Agreement covers the following areas of economic cooperation: 1. facilitation and promotion of trade 2. facilitation and promotion of trading services 3. facilitation and promotion of investment 4. Information and cooperation exchange for legal procedures 5. Promotion of SMEs cooperation 6. Cooperation on logistics and transportation 7. Cooperation and promotion on tourism 8. Promotion of information technology development and R&D 9. Cooperation on human resource development and capacity building 10. Cooperation on intellectual properties 11. facilitation and promotion of creative economic development 12. Other areas of cooperation as mutually agreed.