Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is a haven for both tourists and investors. With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and booming tourism industry, Phuket offers a wealth of opportunities for property investment. But for the savvy investor, choosing the right location is crucial. If you are looking for a condo for sale Phuket, Here’s a look at four of the best areas for property investment in Phuket.
Where is the best place to invest in Phuket property?
Rawai
Escape the hustle and bustle and discover Rawai, a charming area on Phuket’s southern tip. Rawai offers a unique blend of Thai culture and a growing expat community. Here, you’ll find stunning beaches like Nai Harn, laid-back seafood restaurants, and a slower pace of life.
Kata-Karon
For a vibrant yet family-friendly atmosphere, Kata and Karon are perfect choices. These neighboring beaches offer a beautiful setting with calm waters ideal for swimming and water sports. The area boasts a wide range of restaurants, shops, and nightlife options, catering to all tastes.
Bangtao & Layan
Nestled on Phuket’s west coast, Bangtao and Layan offer a luxurious escape. Imagine pristine beaches with soft sand, swaying palm trees, and crystal-clear waters. This area is known for its upscale resorts, championship golf courses, and trendy beach clubs. The area also caters to families, with excellent international schools and a plethora of upscale restaurants and shops.
Patong
Phuket’s beating heart, Patong, is all about excitement. This area is famous for its vibrant nightlife, duty-free shopping malls, and diverse dining scene. Patong caters to budget travelers and party-goers, offering a dynamic atmosphere. Studios and apartments in Patong are ideal for generating rental income due to the high tourist turnover.
Conclusion
Phuket offers a diverse property market, making it crucial to consider your investment goals and target clientele. One of these four areas is sure to offer the perfect investment opportunity in Phuket. So, do your research, choose your ideal location, visit Nestopa and view our listings for condo for sale Phuket and embark on your Phuket property investment journey!
HINO Truck Drivers who Reach the Driving Distance of 1 million KM. Without Overhauling.
Hino Motors Sales (Thailand) Ltd., by Ms. Yumiko Kawamura, President, together with executives and distributers, held the award granting event for HINO truck drivers who drove and reached the driving distance of 1 million kilometers without overhauling, under the event name, “Million KM. Million Smiles” by HINO, at Novotel Bangkok Future Park Rangsit Hotel. The event was on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
Ms. Yumiko Kawamura, President of Hino Motors Sales (Thailand) Ltd., gave a speech to congratulate the HINO customers who drove HINO trucks and reached the driving distance of 1 million kilometers without overhauling. The HINO awarded customers were from 16 companies, driving 24 trucks delivered from 11 distributors from all regions throughout Thailand.
This activity, “Million KM. Million Smiles”, has been implementing for more than 25 years. Currently, more than 550 HINO trucks and their drivers have received the awards of reaching 1 million kilometers, and 2 million kilometers. Moreover, there were trucks which reached the driving distance of 3 million kilometers without overhauling.
The awards given by HINO reflected the good quality. Without cooperation from HINO truck owners or drivers who conduct maintenance activities and take care of trucks, HINO distributors, and HINO service centers that take care of customers’ trucks in order to meet the HINO standards at the highest level, the success of HINO cannot occur. This year, the HINO Award recipients are as follows.
Central Region: Customer from Hino’s dealer; Chairatchakarn (Bangkok) Company Limited
Bangyai Center Company Limited, Nonthaburi Province (1 truck)
Northern Region: Customer from Hino’s dealer; Chairatchakarn (Bangkok) Company Limited
Paramee Logistics Company Limited, Chiang Mai Province (1 truck)
Phanapon Chiangmai Limited Partnership, Chiang Mai Province (1 truck)
Pour Lip Heng Limited Partnership, Chiang Mai Province (3 trucks)
Lanna AGRO. Company Limited, Chiang Mai Province (2 trucks)
Chiangmai Dairy Cooperative Limited, Chiang Mai Province (2 trucks)
North-Eastern Region: Customer from Hino’s dealer; Pongpakphum Company Limited (Chaiyaphum)
Sawanprathanporn Transport Limited Partnership, Chaiyaphum Province (2 trucks)
M Pack Cement Limited Partnership, Chaiyaphum Province (1 truck)
and Udon Chor Thavee Company Limited
Thasaiteppratan 2008 Limited Partnership (Chiangkan), Loei Province (2 trucks)
Tolap Limited Partnership, Kalasin Province (1 truck)
Southern Region: Customer from Hino’s dealer; Sangroong Phuket Company Limited (Krabi Branch)
Kanokporn Phang Nga Limited Partnership, Phang Nga Province (1 truck)
Fly Ash Transport Company Limited, Phuket Province (2 trucks)
Customer from Hino’s dealer; Chairatchakarn Company Limited (Chumporn Branch)
Taichieng Concrete Company Limited, Chumporn Province (1 truck)
Customer from Hino’s dealer; A Group Truck Company Limited
Yala Nam Rung Company Limited, Yala Province (2 trucks)
Customer from Hino’s dealer; Taksin Yontrakarn Hatyai Company Limited
Srisakchai Southern Transport Company Limited
and Customer from Hino’s dealer; Pattani Commercial Limited Partnership (Su-ngai Kolok Branch)
Ms. Suriyani Masae from Narathiwat Province (1 truck)
In addition, in the event the information on the technology for transport, like HINO Connect, was introduced. The HINO Connect would strengthen the transportation efficiency and respond to the truck workloads. Moreover, attendants enjoyed listening to the songs, sung by the pop artist, Mr. Pop Pongkul who came to the event to entertain and bring a smile on every audience’s face, including HINO contestants, and attendants, meeting the HINO Concept in this year; all HINO activities will bring smiles.
HINO would like to congratulate the HINO Award winners of this year. Great activities by HINO will still continue in the following years. HINO and our distributors are willing to develop and improve services and products for our customers, under the Customer Smile Policy, issued to create customer’s happiness and smile. For more information on HINO news and activities, follow us via website: http://www.hinothailand.com, Facebook: Hino Thailand Fan Club, Line: @hinoth,
Youtube: Hino Thailand Official and TikTok: @hinoth.
An aerial view shows damaged buildings in the aftermath of a tornado in Guangming Village of Zhongluotan Town, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Deng Hua/Xinhua via AP)
BEIJING (AP) — Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on Sunday showed wide devastation in part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing five people, injuring dozens others and damaging more than 140 buildings.
As businesses and residents began cleaning debris, the images showed block upon block of devastation in the hardest-hit areas with a few clusters of buildings standing amid the destruction, a truck overturned on its side and cars crushed by rubble. The sheet metal roofs on some buildings were torn off.
Aerial photos posted by Chinese state media on April 28 showed the wide devastation of a part of the southern city of Guangzhou after a tornado swept through the day before, killing and injuring dozens of people and damaging over a hundred buildings. (Deng Hua/Xinhua via AP)
The tornado Saturday also injured 33 people and knocked out power in the area. The tornado, which struck during an afternoon thunderstorm that also brought hail, damaged 141 factory buildings, according to authorities.
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong province and a manufacturing hub near Hong Kong.
They said no homes were destroyed, though a news website under the Southern Media Group reported that some had broken windows.
The tornado hit several villages in Guangzhou’s Baiyun district. In one, packing material known as “pearl cotton” hung from buildings and trees, a report on the Southern Media website said. It blew into the compound of a nearby furniture company, where workers took shelter in a private home after the metal roof was ripped off their building, the news website reported.
In this image taken from a video and released by Li Jiayi, storm clouds and strong wind are seen over the Baiyun district in the southern Chinese’s city of Guangzhou on April 27, 2024. (Li Jiayi via AP)
Workers were rolling up the material to be carted away for disposal on Sunday.
The disaster hit one week after heavy rains and flooding killed at least four people in Guangdong province.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Guangzhou during an official visit to China earlier in the month. The city, formerly known as Canton, also recently held the Canton Fair, a major export and import exhibition that draws buyers from around the world.
In September, two tornadoes killed 10 people in Jiangsu province in eastern China.
In this photo provided by China’s Xinhua News Agency,In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a man removes debris from a damaged building in the aftermath of a tornado in Guangming Village of Zhongluotan Town, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (Deng Hua/Xinhua via AP)
LOEI – Loei Province’s Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) collaborated with Chiang Khan Subdistrict Municipality to organise the flag handover ceremony the Green Destinations Silver Award 2024, which recognises success in sustainable development at the cultural plaza in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province on April 22, 2024.
This event was attended by Green Destinations board members, government agency leaders, and agency officials from Loei Province, as well as district agencies, municipalities, villages, and entrepreneurs.
Gp. Capt. Athikun Kongmee, Director-General of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), said “The silver Green Destinations Award for Chiang Khan is a tribute to the admirable dedicated efforts of various parties to successfully complete the rigorous certification process and earn this prestigious recognition.”
Chiang Khan has been making great efforts to become a model destination for sustainable tourism development since 2019, involving support and cooperation from more than 30 parties in the public and private sectors and more importantly, the local communities.
Based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria or GSTC, the Green Destinations Standard requires member destinations to be compliant with 84 criteria.
In the preliminary assessment and evaluation, Chiang Khan successfully completed the 30 minimum requirements and has been included in the list of Green Destinations TOP 100 Stories in 2020.
This year’s winning of the silver Green Destinations Award means that Chiang Khan has completed additional compliance levels in the comprehensive certification process. The validity for the award is two years.
So far, there are 122 Green Destinations across the world.
As well as being the first in ASEAN, Chiang Khan is the fifth destination in three Asian countries – Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand – to win the prestigious Green Destinations Awards.
Other Thai destinations that advocate sustainability will also be enrolled in the Green Destinations Certification Programmes for Destinations. These include Mueang Kao Sukhothai in Sukhothai, Nan Old City in Nan, Ko Mak in Trat, and Khlong Thom in Krabi.
Panpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to receive Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, at the Government House on April 26, 2024.
BANGKOK – Panpree Bahiddha-Nukara, confirmed that he had sent a letter to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin requesting to resign from the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and every assigned position after he lost his Deputy Prime Minister post in today’s Cabinet reshuffle.
In his resignation letter, he stated to open the way for others to take over the position. He also gave the reason that he needed to remain faithful to his principles. After performing well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, he is certain that his efforts would have a significant impact on the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, and the delegation surveyed areas around the First Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tha Sai Luat sub-district, Mae Sot district, Tak province on April 23, 2024. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
“I firmly denied that I am an under-performer.” Thailand is now back on the global radar screen. There are more countries that are friends. Foreign investors are becoming more interested in investing in Thailand. The visa exemption provided Thai citizens with greater convenience when visiting overseas. “The effort to repair relations with ASEAN, the EU, India, and major countries, both the US and the US, until negotiations can take place also helps ease global geopolitical tensions in Thailand,” the resignation letter stated.
Panpree also mentioned that Thai citizens living overseas are important to his works. He also personally secured the release of 23 Thai hostages held in Israel, as well as 8,000 Thai workers, and an additional 1,000 individuals in Laukkai incident in Myanmar.
Following the fighting in Myawaddy, PM Srettha recently appointed FM Panpree to chair the special inter-agency committee to manage the impacts of situations in Myanmar on Thailand.
After seven months of government administration, Prime Minister Srettha announced his first cabinet reshuffle on April 28. He changed 13 ministerial positions, the majority of whom are from his Pheu Thai Party.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin
Many critics asserted that Thaksin Shinawatra, who received a suspended prison sentence, influenced the Cabinet reshuffle. However, PM Srettha acknowledged that he made the decision.
Deputy PM Phumtham Wechayachai on Friday denies he and PM Srettha Thavisin met and and had lunch with Thaksin on April 25 at a hotel in Bangkok. Phumtham insists the lunch was just between he and Srettha and the decision about Cabinet reshuffle is up to the PM
The Royal Gazette stated on April 27, 2024 that after His Majesty the King graciously appointed Mr. Srettha Thavisin as Prime Minister on August 22, 2023, and appointed ministers to administer the kingdom on September 3, 2023, the Prime Minister has respectfully stated that it is appropriate to improve some ministerial positions for appropriateness and benefit to government administration.
The Royal Gazette
Pichai Chunhavachai is Deputy PM and replaces Srettha Thavisin as Finance Minister. The PM appointed Phaopoom Rojanasakul as Deputy Finance Minister. Currently, the Finance Ministry has three Deputy Finance Ministers.
Transport Minister Suriya Juangrungruangkit will keep his post but also become a Deputy PM. The new Public Health Minister is Somsak Thepsuthin, replacing Cholnan Srikaew.
Three people, Chakrapong Saengmanee, Pichit Chuenban, and Jiraporn Sinthuprai are new PM Office Minister, replace Puangpetch Chun-la-iad.
There was a switch in positions between Sermsak Phongpanich, from Culture Minister to be new Tourism and Sports Minister, and Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol is now designated Culture Minister, even though she received a “Grade A” for the Songkran tourism from the PM.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma will be replaced by Attakorn Siriratyakorn of Bhumjai Thai Party.
Another Deputy Agriculture Minister, Anucha Nakhasai, from Bhumjai Thai Party, is also removed.
Attakorn Siriratyakorn from Palang Pracharat Party is new Deputy Agriculture Minister along with Suchart Chomklin from United Thai Nation Party.
Defence Minister Suthin Klangsaeng retains his position, despite being notified in the reshuffle report that he would be replaced by the Prime Minister.
In this image from a video, smoke rises above a distant base, seen from Chbar Mon district in Kompong Speu province, Cambodia Saturday, April 27, 2024. An ammunition explosion at a base in southwestern Cambodia on Saturday afternoon killed multiple soldiers and wounded several others, Prime Minister Hun Manet said. (Chim Sothea via AP)
CHBAR MON, Cambodia (AP) — Security was tight around a military base in southwestern Cambodia on Sunday, a day after a huge explosion there killed 20 soldiers, wounded others and damaged nearby houses.
Guards sought to keep media away from the site in Kompong Speu province.
A funeral was held Sunday for 20 soldiers who died at an army base in southwestern Cambodia in a huge explosion of stored munitions that also wounded several others and damaged nearby houses.
There has been no public explanation of what caused the Saturday afternoon blast at the base in Kompong Speu province, though there were no suggestions it was triggered deliberately.
Defense Minister Tea Seiha, representing Prime Minister Hun Manet, presided over the Buddhist funeral ceremony, which was attended by relatives of the victims and fellow soldiers. Cambodian flags covered the wooden coffins.
A villager living nearby told The Associated Press on Sunday that he trembled after hearing the blast because he had never before experienced such a loud explosion.
“When the explosion happened, I was fixing my house with some construction workers,” said Chim Sothea. “Suddenly there was a loud explosion, causing my house to shake and breaking tiles on my roof. They fell down but luckily they didn’t fall inside the house.”
Hun Manet said in a Facebook post on Saturday that he was “deeply shocked” when he received the news of the blast in the province’s Chbar Mon district. It was not immediately clear what caused it.
Images from the scene showed several badly damaged buildings on the base, at least one with its roof blown off, and soldiers receiving treatment in a hospital. Other photos showed nearby houses with holes in their roofs.
A roof of a nearby residence is seen damaged after an ammunition explosion at Prey Beng village in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, Sunday, April 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Four buildings — three for storage and one work facility — were destroyed and several military vehicles damaged, Col. Youeng Sokhon, an army officer at the site, said in a brief report to army chief Gen. Mao Sophan, posted on social media. He added that 25 villagers’ homes were damaged as well. Photos of the base showed the damaged structures in a large field, apparently with no civilian structures close by.
Another villager, who asked to be named only as Sophal, told AP he had heard a sharp sound, and when he saw smoke rising from the direction of the army base, he realized it was an explosion at the arms depot. He then ran back to his house from the small shop where he sells food and drink to shelter inside with his wife and two children.
He said the military immediately closed the road to the base and “villagers were in a panic, seeking a safe place.” He then moved his family to his parent’s home, farther away from the base. When he returned to his own house hours later, he found it undamaged but other villagers’ houses had broken windows, doors and roofs, he said.
Cambodia, like many countries in the region, has been suffering from an extended heat wave, and the province where the blast took place registered a high of 39 C (102 F) on Saturday. While high temperatures normally can’t detonate ammunition, they can degrade the stability of explosives over a period of time, with the risk that a single small explosion can set off a fire and a chain reaction.
FILE – Cambodia’s prime minister Hun Manet said in a Facebook post that he was “deeply shocked” when he received the news of the explosion Saturday afternoon at the base in Kampong Speu province. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Kiripost, an online English language news service, quoted villager Pheng Kimneang as saying a major explosion occurred at about 2:30 p.m., followed by smaller blasts for about another hour.
In March 2005, a nighttime blast at an arms depot in the northwestern provincial town of Battambang triggered an hourslong spray of shells and bullets, killing at least six people and panicking local residents.
A 2014 report by the Swiss-based group Small Arms Survey highlighted the dangers of poorly stored or mishandled munitions, calling it a “global problem.” It noted that from 2013 through 2019 there were more than 500 incidents involving unplanned explosions at munitions sites.
“A single unplanned explosion at a munitions site can claim dozens of lives, injure hundreds of people, and displace thousands,” it said. “The damage to infrastructure can be extensive, covering many square kilometers. In addition, the loss of economic activity can exceed tens of millions of dollars and have long-term ramifications for livelihoods and the environment.”
Hun Manet offered condolences to the soldiers’ families and promised the government would pay for their funerals and provide compensation both to those killed and those wounded.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he was army commander before he was elected last year to serve as prime minister, succeeding his father Hun Sen, who led Cambodia for 38 years before stepping down.
U.S. Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy, in a post on the social platform X, extended condolences to the families of the soldiers affected by the explosion.
A worker piles freshly harvested durians at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
NANNING – Opinions on durians, whether described as sticky-sweet or compared to the odor of socks, vary widely, yet the demand for durians is rapidly increasing, particularly in China.
After placing orders online for durians, Huang Rongsheng, a resident of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, received doorstep delivery within about one hour. This was Huang’s third online order for durian this year.
“Thai durians, known for their rich flavor and dense texture, are particularly popular among Chinese consumers,” he said.
Thailand, the leading exporter of fresh durians to China, has seen sustained growth in demand for its produce. At a newly established display stand in a market around 5 km from Huang’s home, imported Thai durians, including varieties like Golden Pillow and Musang King, are drawing crowds of consumers.
“Despite limited quantities and high prices, consumer enthusiasm remains unabated,” said a fruit vendor at the supermarket.
Photo taken on May 5, 2022, shows a durian sorting factory in Chanthaburi province, Thailand. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
China’s appetite for the pricy tropical fruit is enormous. According to an HSBC report from last year, the Chinese market accounted for 91 percent of the global demand for durian in the past two years.
Buoyed by the overwhelming demand, retailers are optimistic about their sales projections for 2024.
“There’s a robust demand in the Chinese domestic market,” said Lai Pingsheng with a subsidiary of Charoen Pokphand Group, a leading agribusiness conglomerate in Thailand.
In 2024, the company plans to sell 324 tonnes of Thai durians in Guangxi through supermarkets and convenience stores.
China imported approximately 6.7 billion U.S. dollars worth of durians in 2023. Economists believe that the surge in durian demand presents opportunities for the rest of Southeast Asia, not just Thailand.
Remarkable year-end figures from 2023 revealed that Vietnamese durian exports to China hit 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, capturing 31 percent of a growing durian market in its northern neighbor, according to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs.
The soaring popularity of durians in China underscores the increasing purchasing power of consumers and their preference for this fruit, said Mo Jiaming, general manager of Guangxi-based fruit company Youxianyuan.
“I am confident of profitable business during the upcoming peak durian season in May,” Mo added.
Mr. Takuya Kato, 49, and Mr. Hiroto Suzuki, 33, who are wanted by Thai police, escaped to Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Laos, via Thailand's Nakhon Phanom Province.
NONTHABURI – Since the two Japanese suspects fled the country, the shocking case of Yakuza gang members coming to kill a member and dismember the body in Thailand remains unsolved.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirasan Kaewsaeng-aek, Commander of Provincial Police Region 1, revealed the murder case of Mr Kabashima Ryosuke, 47, a Japanese national, in Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province, after it was discovered that Mr Takuya Kato, 50, who called himself “Boss,” and Mr Hiroto Suzuki, 33, both suspects of Japanese nationality, had fled the country through a natural channel.
The police believe the two suspects are presently on the run in neighbouring countries, thus Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirasan has already sent police personnel to share information with the authorities in neighbouring countries to bring them back to Thailand.
Region 1 police investigators took Mr. Game to look for more evidence at the factory on April 24.
Initially, no one was identified to have assisted two Japanese men in fleeing the country. The driver who drove the two men to Nakhon Phanom, bordering Thakhek, Khammouane Province, Laos, told police that on April 22, an acquaintance contacted him and hired him for 12,000 baht to pick up two foreigners from Vibhavadi Road 19 in Bangkok and deliver them to Nakhon Phanom Province.
They arrived in Nakhon Phanom Province at 8:00 a.m. on April 23, and another vehicle drove to pick up the two men. However, he had no idea where they had gone. When he returned to Bangkok, he discovered that the two were suspected of murdering a Japanese man.
According to the inquiry, the deceased, Mr. Kabashima Ryosuke, 47, had a conflict of interest with a Yakuza group in Japan about the cryptocurrency business, secretly taking advantage of the money for personal use and failing to return before travelling to Thailand.
The first discovery of the body parts occurred on April 19.
A Yakuza gang in Japan contacted Kato, the main leader who had escaped an arrest warrant in Japan and fled to Thailand, and Suzuki, who has just arrived in Thailand, to find Ryosuke and punish him in accordance with Yakuza rules in order to set an example for other members not to betray or be dishonest with the gang. Kato shot Ryosuke to death in the car on March 28.
Kato hired Thai driver Kritsakorn Jaipitak, or Game, aged 33, to rent an empty warehouse, purchase tools for dismembering a body, and use three cars in rotation to conceal the murder. The first discovery of the body parts occurred on April 19.
Game is charged with “conspiring to conceal or destroy corpses and concealing the cause of death,” and the police have already asked the court to issue a full arrest order for two Japanese suspects.
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court has decided not to give Game bail due to the appalling nature of the crime and the suspect’s direct involvement. The authorities apprehended him and sent him to Nonthaburi Provincial Prison.
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court has decided not to give Game bail on April 25, 2024.
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, left, is escorted by Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, after listening to national anthems during a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK – Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Srettha Thavisin welcomed Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of People’s Republic of Bangladesh at the Government House, on April 26, 2024. It is the first visit by Bangladesh’s Prime Minister since 2002.
Both sides had bilateral discussions, in which they agreed to begin the FTA negotiations in order to expand trade and promote investment between the two countries, in particular processed food and Halal products.
These were the Letter of Intent to Commence the Negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement by 2024, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism, and the Memorandum of Understanding concerning Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters
According to the Prime Minister, Three important memoranda of understanding and one agreement were also signed today: namely (1) The Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Official Passports will facilitate more travel between Thai and Bangladeshi officials; (2) The MoU on Energy Cooperation will help materialize the two countries’ true potential from energy cooperation;
(3) The MoU on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters will lead to effective border control and anti-smuggling operations and; (4) The MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism will allow the two countries to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in this area.
They later witnessed the signing of the following 5 Agreements and Memorandum of Understaffing:
1) Letter of Intent on Commencement of Thailand – Bangladesh FTA Negotiation between Ministries of Commerce of Thailand and People’s Republic of Bangladesh
2) Agreement on Visa Exemption for Official Passport Holders of the Kingdom of Thailand and People’s Republic of Bangladesh
3) Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation between Ministry of Energy of the Kingdom of Thailand and Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of People’s Republic of Bangladesh
4) Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation between Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Kingdom of Thailand and Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism of People’s Republic of Bangladesh
5) Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters between Customs Departments of the Kingdom of Thailand and People’s Republic of Bangladesh
The joint press conference was later held, of which Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke disclosed gist as follows:
The Prime Minister was deeply honored to warmly welcome the Bangladeshi Prime Minister and the delegation on her first official visit to Thailand. Thailand and Bangladesh share a long-standing friendship since 1972.
Given historical and cultural affinities, this visit reaffirms commitment of the two countries to further strengthen bilateral relations through trade and investment, development cooperation, and tourism.
Both the Prime Ministers had substantive discussions on many issues of mutual interest, and affirmed commitment to enhance cooperation in various areas for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
On trade, Thailand and Bangladesh welcome bilateral trade volume at 1.2 billion USD, and believe that both sides can do more to expand economic cooperation. Trade and investment facilitation was highlighted during the discussion to increase trade and investment volumes, as well as to create a resilient supply chain. The Thai Prime Minister encouraged the Bangladeshi side to provide investment promotion schemes and ease of doing business measures, which will facilitate and attract more Thai investors.
He was also pleased that Thailand and Bangladesh are committed to working together towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and expressed belief that the Letter of Intent signed today would help to expedite the negotiation process.
Both sides also aim to elevate cooperation in agriculture, in particular halal and food processing sectors. Thailand and Bangladesh will collaborate to make use of resources to ensure food security for their peoples.
The two countries also attach importance to the improvement of infrastructure and connectivity. The commencement of direct shipping between Ranong Port and Chittagong Port will enhance maritime connectivity and help bolster economic activities.
On medical tourism, Thailand will continue to provide excellent medical services, at competitive prices for Bangladeshis seeking treatment in Thailand. The two Prime Ministers also discussed the possibility of cooperation in training and capacity building for Bangladeshi medical personnel.
On educational cooperation, Thailand proposed a collaboration on vocational education. The Thai Government is glad to see mutual commitment to foster work-integrated education to develop workforces of both the countries.
According to the Prime Minister, Thailand will host the BIMSTEC Summit later this year; while Bangladesh will become the next BIMSTEC chair. BIMSTEC is a key driver of regional economic growth, and a mechanism to promote closer bonds between the two regions. With a combined total population of 1.8 billion people, there is huge potential for BIMSTEC to achieve much more.
Thailand also appreciates Bangladesh’s role in providing humanitarian assistance for displaced Rohingyas since 2017. Thailand has always given its support towards Bangladesh’s endeavor in order to achieve a sustainable solution to this matter.
Lastly, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Thai Government, expressed firm commitment to drive cooperation and encourage exchanges in all dimensions, at both government and public levels. He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina again for making this historic visit.
FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden, left, meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh Hue in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Vietnamese state media outlet VN Express reports that the head of Vietnam’s Parliament, Vuong Dinh Hue, has resigned. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The head of Vietnam’s parliament has resigned, according to state media, making him the latest senior member of government to leave office amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign that’s shaken the country’s political and business elites.
The resignation of National Assembly Chair Vuong Dinh Hue adds to growing instability in the country. President Vo Van Thuong resigned in March — just over a year after the previous president, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, resigned to take political responsibility for corruption scandals during the pandemic.
“It also highlights the extreme uncertainty in a political environment that’s often boasted of its stability, as three top leaders have been axed in just a year,” said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.
Hue’s resignation came days after his assistant Pham Thai Ha was arrested on charges of abusing his position and power for personal gain on April 21, according to state media outlet VN Express.
FILE – Vietnam Communist party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, center left, is presented with a bouquet by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, center right, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021. (Le Tri Dung/VNA via AP, File)
Initial reports did not say that Hue was implicated in corruption, but noted that investigators found that the parliamentary leader had “violated Party regulations, and his violations have affected the reputation of the Party, the State and himself.” Vietnam’s Communist Party accepted what it called a voluntary resignation from Hue, according to VN Express.
Hue, 67, had been the chair of Vietnam’s national assembly for over three years. That made him the fourth most important politician in Vietnam, along with the President, the Prime Minister and the head of the Communist Party.
Political instability could threaten Vietnam’s economic ambitions as it vies to become an alternative to China in the region’s supply chain. On a visit to Vietnam earlier in the month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he wants to further increase investment in the country.
FILE – Vietnamese Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue pose for a photo at the national assembly in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang, Pool, File)
Ha’s arrest resulted from an expansion of the ongoing investigation into the Thuan An Group, said Vietnam News Agency, citing Ministry of Public Security spokesperson Lt. Gen. To An Xo. Company chair Nguyen Duy Hung and several others were arrested earlier in April.
Giang, the analyst, said Hue was previously seen as a likely successor to Trong. “His downfall will only intensify Vietnam’s succession crisis,” he said.
Vietnam’s leaders are next due to convene a Communist Party congress in early 2026.
Meanwhile, experts say, rivals are jostling to position themselves as a successor to Trong, who was elected to an unprecedented third term as party chief in 2021. Given his age, experts say that it is unlikely that he will continue for another term.
