Today (August 15, 2012) at 09.00, Mr. Kwon Do-youp, Minister of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Korea paid a courtesy call on Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, the Prime Minister at Purple room, Thai Khu Fah building, the Government House. Gist as follows:

The Prime Minister expressed her pleasure to meet Minister of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Korea once again, and appreciated the Republic of Korea for useful information about water management given to Thailand during the Prime Minister’s visit to Flood Control Center at the Hun River, the Republic of Korea. In addition, the Prime Minister expressed her appreciation to Korea’s multidimensional progress such as economic and industrial development. She also believed that Korea is a role model for a number of developing countries, especially in the field of green development.

Moreover, two leaders agreed with upgrading relations to “strategic partnership”; as a result, they can expand bilateral cooperation in several fields for mutual benefit of the two countries.

The government of Thailand prioritized flood prevention plan with the purpose of building confidence among businessmen in Thailand through 2 main projects namely water management system development, and infrastructure development for connectivity with neighboring countries in ASEAN. The government would thus like to invite Korean government and private sector to join in the aforementioned investment. In this regard, Minister of the Republic of Korea replied that there are several leading Korean firms showing interests in construction and water management investment in which the government of Thailand had opened for TOR proposal. The Republic of Korea has been successful in water management.

In this opportunity, Minister of the Republic of Korea extended his appreciation to the government of Thailand for continuous cooperation with South Korea, and requested the Prime Minister to support Korean private companies aiming at investing in Thailand.

During Minister of the Republic of Korea’s visit, MOU on technical cooperation on water management between Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Kingdom of Thailand and Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs, the Republic of Korea was also signed.