Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed has today met with the Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva. The meeting was held during the Vice President’s stopover at Bangkok, returning Malé after concluding his visit to Bhutan.
During the meeting, the discussions were mainly focused on further strengthening the economic and trade ties between the Maldives and Thailand, and climate change.
During the discussions, Vice President Dr Waheed noted that the volume of trade between the two countries have grown significantly in the past years. Speaking on the importance of expanding the existing economic relations, Vice President briefed the Prime Minister on the investment opportunities in the Maldives. He also said Thailand’s business community could also explore the investment opportunities that open up in the Maldives through the government’s privatization programme.
Prime Minister Vejjajiva stressed the importance of promoting the investment opportunities in the Maldives within the Thailand’s business community, and spoke on the visit of a high level business delegation from Thailand to Maldives scheduled for later this month. He said that he would encourage Thai investors to consider investment opportunities in the Maldives.
Discussing climate change, the Vice President elaborated on the challenges faced by the Maldives as a result of climate change. He detailed the efforts undertaken by the Maldives to bring the issue to the attention of the international community and to protect the country.
Prime Minister Vejjajiva extended the support of the government of Thailand to the climate change negotiations led by the Maldives.
During the meeting, the Vice President and the Prime Minister also discussed the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) – a regional cooperation on early warning of natural disasters between the countries in the region.
RIMES was formed after the 2004 tsunami to establish an early warning system of natural disasters. The Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) facilitates this regional cooperation through bilateral agreements with the countries.
Vice President Dr Waheed briefed the Prime Minister Vejjajiva on his visit to the RIMES centre in Bangkok.
