Significant Increase in Thai-Russian Bilateral Trade

(31/03/2013)

Trade between Thailand and Russia rose to five billion US dollars in 2012, tripling the amount recorded three years ago. Both countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to 10 billion dollars in 2016. The agreement was reached at the 5th Session of the Thailand-Russia Joint Commission on Bilateral Relations, held in Moscow on 29 March 2013. Representing Thailand at the session was Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who called on both countries to look ahead with a vision to include new areas of cooperation in order to bring the long-lasting Thailand-Russia relations to a new era of strategic partnership. According to a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand invited Russia to participate in infrastructure projects planned to enhance regional connectivity and support ASEAN integration into an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. AEC will be a large market for Russian products in the future. Thailand can serve as a production base and a gateway to Southeast Asia for Russia, while Russia can serve as a bridge linking Thailand to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Both sides viewed food security as an important issue and agreed to step up cooperation in the field of agriculture, increase bilateral trade in agricultural products, and promote investment in the related industries. They also agreed to develop technical cooperation in science and technology, communications, and culture, which will not only support the exchange of knowledge but also enhance people-to-people contact. Thailand and Russia agreed to explore the possibility of setting up a working group on tourism to promote tourism and to protect the safety of Thai and Russian tourists, taking into account that in 2012 over 1.3 million Russian tourists came to Thailand, while some 50,000 Thai tourists went to Russia. Thailand urged Russia to import more Thai agricultural products, such as rice, rubber, canned fruits, frozen seafood, and frozen and processed chicken. Russia is now Thailand’s largest trading partner in Eastern Europe. Mr. Surapong called for more frequent and regular exchanges between Thai and Russian academic institutions. He asked Russia to consider giving Thai students more flexibility to choose universities in Russia, as well as their fields of study. He also wished to see more Thai students going to study at leading universities in Russia. On cooperation in science and technology, he urged relevant agencies to exchange their experts in research and conduct joint scientific projects, especially in the fields of nanotechnology and medical science. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is expected to pay an official visit to Russia in the middle of 2013. She has invited Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, to pay an official visit to Thailand before or after the APEC Summit in Bali, Indonesia, at the end of 2013.

Vice Minister of Labour on High Flyer Talk Show

(27/03/2013)

Mr. Anusorn Kraiwatnussorn, Vice Minister of Labour, was a guest at the High Fly Talk Show at the Golden Tulip Hotel.  As a role model for success, he was interviewed by the show host, Khun Kawinta Danutra, about secret keys to work and business successes. The 30-minutes programe was pre-recorded and would probably be broadcast on Modern Nine TV on April 18, 2013 12 am – 12.30 am.

502 Thai workers in Brunei take part in health checks

(26/03/2013)

Mr. Poonsak Sethanandha, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Labour, says a total of 502 Thai workers in Brunei received health checks provided by Ministry of Labour. He says the number is more than expected and that the service receives well responses from workers. Meanwhile, Rajavithi Hospital doctors say the service should be launched in all countries that Thai workers go to work. Most Thai workers are found to have high pressures and suffer body ache, likely to have been caused by hard work.

Mr. Poonsak announced the results of the health check service for Thai workers in Brunei, saying that his ministry organized a health promotion project for Thai workers overseas under which a medical team from Rajavithi Hospital and Songkhlar Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital travel overseas to provide health check and give medical advices for those workers. During March 19-24, his ministry launched the project in Brunei.

Mr. Poonsak said a total of 502 Thai workers in Brunei received the health checks and that most of them had high pressure and suffered body ache, likely to have been caused by hard work. The medical team told them to have their health checked more regularly because high pressure could lead to other diseases.

He said workers who received the service were satisfied. They had an opportunity to access medical service, which they rarely got and proposed the ministry to organize such the service more often, from once to twice a year.

Meanwhile, Dr. Winai Srisaart, doctor from Rajavithi Hospital, said Thai workers should pay extra attention to their health, especially those with congenital disease such as high pressure and diabetes and continue to take their medication.

He said he found that works in building and industrial sectors are more likely to have high pressure than those in agricultural sector. This is not unusual because the works there involve hard physical.

He said in overall he is satisfied with because many workers had access to medical service, which they rarely got due to language problems. He also wants Ministry of Labour to publish handbook for basic medical vocabulary in both English and local language and distribute to workers in order to help them communicate with local doctors. The service should also be expanded to other countires that Thai workers go to work.