Yingluck to visit Japan in March to boost confidence in Thailand

Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to visit Japan in March to lead a roadshow scheduled on March 6-9 and to ensure Japanese investors of the government's water management plans, according to reports released on Sunday. The prime minister's visit came after the meeting between Thailand's Industry Minister M.R. Phongsawat Svastiwat and the JETRO Bangkok President, Setsuo Iuchi regarding the upcoming roadshow. The roadshow will be organized by the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) authorities in both Tokyo and Nagoya to encourage investment as well as to clarify investment promotions and assistance measures for flood-affected entrepreneurs, such as corporate income tax exemption. The Industry Minister insisted that it is essential to restore investors' confidence as Japanese companies located in the Rojana Industrial Estate in the province of Ayutthaya are considering relocating their production bases elsewhere due to severe floods last year. Thai entrepreneurs will be invited to go with the premier so that they could meet with their Japanese counterparts who will be also given a chance to have discussion with the prime minister.