The Honourable Moana Carcasses Kalosil, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, will pay an Official Visit to Thailand as Guest of the Royal Thai Government from 18 to 23 May 2013. During the visit, the Prime Minister of Vanuatu will also attend the 2^nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit hosted by Thailand in Chiang Mai.

                        The Prime Minister of Vanuatu will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss and exchange views on ways to (1) enhance bilateral relations (2) promote trade and investment and (3) strengthen development cooperation. In this regard, both Prime Ministers will witness the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation between the two countries. The scope of this MOU covers technical cooperation in key areas, namely, agriculture, education, health, sustainable development and trade and Investment. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu is also scheduled to pay a study visit  to learn about agricultural technology, especially rice production, fruit processing and aquaculture as well as the advancement of Thailand’s tourism industry.

                          This visit to Thailand will be the first official visit of the Prime Minister of Vanuatu. It is also the first visit since he assumed office on 23 March 2013. This visit will therefore mark a significant milestone in the Thai – Vanuatu diplomatic relations, providing a good opportunity for both countries to further strengthen ties of friendship and further enhance cooperation in various areas.                      

                           Thailand and Vanuatu established diplomatic relations on 21 September 1982. At present, there are around 17 Thais living in Vanuatu, most of which work in Thai restaurants and Thai massage and spa businesses. Vanuatu is a South Pacific country to which Thailand accords a high priority. Thailand is Vanuatu's most important exporting partner. In 2012, the trade volume between Thailand and Vanuatu was estimated around 176 million USD (about 5.28 billion Baht). Thai exports to Vanuatu include automobiles, canned and processed food, clothes, and sugar. Thailand imports fresh seafood, chilled and frozen seafood, especially tuna from Vanuatu.

                           The enhancement of ties with Vanuatu, an important country in the South Pacific and member of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), is also part of Thailand’s policy to strengthen cooperation with this important region, with a view to addressing regional and global issues of common concern.