Britain's Duke of York to discuss trade, investment with Thai Deputy PM

BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) - His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Britain's Duke of York, will discuss trade and investment with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak here Thursday with an aim to strengthen bilateral trade ties between the United Kingdom and Thailand.

Prince Andrew, who is a special UK representative for international trade and investment, arrived at Bangkok Military Airport on Wednesday, the first of the royal guests for the celebrations marking His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

High on the agenda are the bilateral trade promotion which Thailand will raise at the talks, while Britain is expected to raise the issue of Thailand's import ban on British beef--to prevent the spread of mad cow disease.

British beef exporters are concerned about Thailand's new regulation on foreign beef imports, put in place early this year, which has impacted their businesses, according to a source at the Commerce Ministry.

Other issues on the agenda include free trade negotiations and Thailand's mass transit infrastructure projects--the so-called megaprojects--in which Britain is interested.

The Commerce Ministry said that two-way trade between January-April this year reached US$1.415 billion (some 762.3 million British pounds or about Bt54.4 billion), while export value in the same period stood at US$988 million (some 532.3 million British pounds or about Bt40 billion). Thailand enjoyed the surplus.

Apiradi Tantraporn, director-general of the Trade Negotiations Department said Thailand would seek cooperation from other major British department stores and supermarkets to import and distribute more Thai products through their networks in Britain after Tesco, Britain's giant retail supermarket chain, agreed earlier to distribute Thai merchandised goods through its worldwide outlets.

TNA

Prince Andrew:UK is confident in Thailand

BANGKOK, June 10 (TNA) - The United Kingdom is confident in Thailand, where UK investors give priority to expanding their investment bases, His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Britain's Duke of York, said here on Friday.

When presiding over a ceremony to inaugurate the 100th branch of UK-based Boots Group at the Q-House Building on South Sathorn Road Friday afternoon, His Royal Highness Prince Andrew said in his speech that bilateral relations between the UK and Thailand have long been established and fostered.

The Duke of York, the second son of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, who is also a UK special representative for international trade and investment, noted that Thailand is among countries in which the UK is confident and UK investors give priority to expanding their investment bases internationally.

The Prince cited Boots Group as an example, saying the UK-based leading health and beauty retailer is now a largest foreign business in Thailand with its sales growing more than Bt2.5 billion this year and its branches to be increased to 120 in the near future.

He said Boots Groups has employed 800 Thai personnel so far and will increase its Thai staff to more than 1,000 by the end of this year, adding that more than 800 items of products sold at Boots Group (Thailand) are locally-produced for both domestic and overseas sales with Hong Kong Taiwan and the Middle East being its major export markets.

Boots Groups, one of the UK's best known businesses and having been established for more than 100 years, opened its first outlet in Thailand in 1997 and has steadily expanding its braches throughout the kingdom to 100 currently.

The Prince is also interested in Thailand's community-based products under the government-supported One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) Programme, particularly handicraft and herbal products.

Like other members of world royalty, the Duke of York is paying a state visit to the Thai kingdom as a Royal guest, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to join Thailand's state and Royal ceremonies from June 9-13 marking the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne.

TNA