PM tells Brits democracy will triumph

PM tells Brits democracy will triumph

Yingluck addresses UK business figures

LONDON : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday assured the British business sector that her government will overcome the anti-democratic movement in Thailand.

The prime minister gave an address on "2013: The Year of Opportunity in Thailand" at a lunch attended by British and Thai business operators at London's Grosvenor House Hotel yesterday.

Ms Yingluck, who is on an official visit to the United Kingdom, said she would do her best to ensure Thailand will continue to build on its current political stability and democratic foundations by strengthening the rule of law and good governance.

"The Thai people have given my government a strong mandate with a landslide victory in the election last year," she said. "With continuous support from the international community, we will work to push back the anti-democratic groups that still exist in Thailand."

Ms Yingluck said the government recognised that political stability serves as a strong foundation for investment and economic growth.

"Under my leadership, we will move forward in promoting national reconciliation based on the rule of law and in encouraging dialogue among all parties concerned. Political differences must be settled in parliament, not in street protests and violence," she said.

Ms Yingluck will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron today.

She said she would propose to her counterpart the creation of "a new strategic dialogue" between the two nations.

The dialogue will cover several aspects, including economics, education, tourism and social and cultural relations.

"Thailand and the UK enjoy healthy economic links," Ms Yingluck said.

"The value of bilateral trade was 3.6 billion, around 175 billion baht, last year.

"So, we hope to begin negotiations on an FTA early next year."

She said Thailand's priorities in 2013 will be based on the theme "Implementing Thailand's Vision for Continued Stability and Prosperity".

Ms Yingluck said her government will start implementing key infrastructure and water management projects from next year to serve the more than 600 million consumers within the Asean Economic Community, which will come into effect in 2015.

"Thailand will be your gateway to the region," she told the forum.

On infrastructure development, the government is investing around 42 billion, or around 2 trillion baht, from 2013 to 2019, she said.

This includes four high-speed rail lines that will link Thailand with China, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam to the east.

Furthermore, Thailand is pursuing the twin strategy of expanding its Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chonburi and the development of Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port, she said.

The government is planning road and rail links between these two ports, linking the Gulf of Thailand to the Indian Ocean.

"This will cut the transportation time of goods from Bangkok to the Indian port of Chennai by half _ from six days through the Strait of Malacca, to three with the Dawei deep-sea port," she said.

"In addition, we are investing around 7.3 billion [in flood management]. These investments are also expected to translate into real growth which ensures the debt to GDP ratio will be maintained at an acceptable level of no more than 50%."

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