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.