Thailand Prime Minister to visit New Zealand and Papua New Guinea

BANGKOK, 15 March 2013 (NNT)- Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to visit New Zealand and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea from March 21-25, 2013 at the invitations of the Prime Ministers of both nations.

According to the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Yingluck will bring a team of private sector and relevant agencies to New Zealand to study that country's strength with a view to bringing the experience to boost the competitiveness of the Thai business sector.

Highlights of the visit include sightseeing of New Zealand's farming industries, particularly milk and beef production, as well as its famous eco-tourism industry. In addition, Ms. Yingluck will be the first Thai to receive an honorary doctoral degree from Auckland University of Technology.

Ms. Yingluck is also the first Thai leader to visit the Independent State of Papua New Guinea made at the invitation of Papua New Guinean counterpart Peter O'Niel . The country is Thailand's no.1 trading partner in the South Pacific and is eyed as prospective market of raw materials due to its abundant natural resources, be it forests, oil or marine lives. On this visit, the Thai Prime Minister will be giving food hygiene testing and disease detecting devices to the country as well as educational materials and memorabilia from Thailand to Papua New Guinea universities.