Thai PM to visit Brunei

Thai PM to visit Brunei

BANGKOK (DPA): Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will travel to Brunei and Singapore this week to discuss trade and investment and address problems faced by Thai laborers in both countries, government sources said yesterday.

Chavalit will depart today for a one day visit to Brunei before travelling on to Singapore March 20-21.

He is scheduled to meet Brunei's Sultan and Prime Minister Bolkiah to discuss boosting trade and investment between the two countries, both of which are the ASEAN members.

Bilateral Thai-Brunei trade last year amounted to about 7 billion baht ($280 million). Bilaterial investment remains miniscule, Thai foreign ministry sources said.

Chavalit, who became prime minister in November, 1996, will also have meeting with representatives of Thai laborers in both countries. Currently there are about 32,400 Thais working in Brunei and 50,000 in Singapore.