DOHA: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) will arrive in Qatar on November 24 on an official three-day visit. This is first official visit of the highest Thai official since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in August 7, 1980.

Qatar be the first and only country in the Middle East that Vejjajiva will visit indicating the importance of such relations and a perfect occasion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations of the two countries.

The official delegation accompanying the Thai prime minister will include the foreign minister, finance minister, energy minister, labour minister, commercial minister and several senior officials of key ministries as well as trade representatives and Thai businessmen.

Besides an official programme with the the Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the prime minister will lead a business meeting with the Qatar business community and diplomatic corps where he will talk about the present dynamism and business opportunities in Thailand and the potential strategic partnership between the two countries.

The visit will also showcase halal technology, medical tourism, sukuk bond by Islamic Bank of Thailand and handicrafts from the Muslim communities in Thailand. Major agreements will be signed to facilitate the growing importance of partnership.

A gathering of the Thai community in Qatar will be arranged for Vejjajiva to update his countrymen on the current economic recovery in Thailand as well as the path to strengthen democracy and to harmonise the political difference. To bring out the country for “Shining through” is his mandate since he assumed office last year.

Being a major food exporter to the world, Thailand is keen to work out specific proposal for food security scheme with Qatar and the region. Favourite medical tourism destinations to Thailand would be elevated to the new strategic partnership.

Officials said medium scale contractors as well as disciplined and skilled labor from Thailand could contribute to the continuous and sustainable development of Qatar.

Thailand as non-Islamic country with 10 percent Muslim populations has gainedreputation in Halal food technology with most advanced laboratory in the Far East. It became the world’s fifth largest Halal food exporter in 2008 with market share of 5.6 percent valued at $ 35.7bn.

the peninsula