S'pore regional strategy

S'pore regional strategy

BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand is a priority in Singapore's bid to
go regional by expanding business abroad and investing overseas,
Singapore Trade and Industry Minister Yeo Cheow Tong says.

"Being part of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations) and traditional trading partners, Thailand is obviously
a priority in our strategy to go regional," said Yeo, visiting
Bangkok for the launch of the Thailand-Singapore Business
Council.

Singapore is already the third largest investor in Thailand,
he said. Bilateral trade grew by 23 percent in the first nine
months of this year to S$11.3 billion (US$774 million).

Thailand's strong growth will provide further opportunities
for Singapore and Thai businessmen in sectors such as
telecommunications, port and airport development, traffic
management, public housing and manpower development, Yeo said
Wednesday.

In view of rapid regional economic growth, both countries
should form investor consortia to undertake projects in
Indonesia, China and India and later in Vietnam, Burma and
Cambodia, he said.