Opening the exhibition “Thailand’s Economic
Future under the ASEAN Community”, she urged the country to enhance its
competitiveness to prepare for challenges as well as opportunities from
the AEC’s formation.
ASEAN will become a single
market of 600 million people by 2015, pushing greater connectivity in
the region. Therefore, Thailand needs to make good use of its
strategic location to act as a gateway of ASEAN, the PM said.
The
Thai Government is promoting an infrastructure project worth 2 trillion
THB to better the country’s connection with neighbouring ASEAN members.
It has also outlined eight strategies for the country’s integration
into the AEC.
She said that to be a trade, investment and
tourism gateway of ASEAN, Thailand needs to make preparations in all
aspects, and the Government is creating favourable conditions for all
sectors to realise this target when the AEC is formed.
The
exhibition, which will run until November 6, aims to improve knowledge
on ASEAN and showcase Thailand’s competitiveness in the region. The
Vietnamese Embassy’s Trade Office joined other regional countries at the
event.-VNA