Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has stressed the importance of attracting foreign investment to Thailand, saying that his overseas trips were intended to restore confidence in Thailand and that international trade was one of his administration’s priorities.

In the first “Talk with Srettha” television program on 22 June 2024, the Prime Minister said that the program aimed to promote direct communication between the Prime Minister and the public. He said that the overall results of his overseas trips were positive, since Thailand received international recognition as a country favorable for investment.

The Prime Minister pointed out that increased investment needs ome time; however, many countries have shown keen interest in investing more in Thailand, which has many advantages, such as reasonable cost of living, good international schools, and a high-standard healthcare system.

He said that Thailand has also invested in developing numerous infrastructure projects. It has set a goal to become a regional aviation hub, and will increase the capacity of Suvarnabhumi Airport, so that the airport will be able to accommodate 150 million passengers annually.

Thailand would like to construct the “Landbridge,” in the South, as an additional important route to support transportation and an important option for resolving the problems of the Malacca Strait. This will be a cheaper, faster, and safer route.

The Prime Minister explained that his overseas visits were to introduce the country, and, more importantly, it is meant to bring about better quality of life for the Thai people, from the expansion of foreign investment in Thailand.

He will soon hold a meeting with the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation to discuss the issue of upskilling Thai workers. The ministry will be told to urge institutions of higher education to arrange training programs for Thai students with major companies. The program should be extended to nine months or one year, instead of three months.