BANGKOK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will begin her two-day official visit to Bangkok tomorrow (Jan 24).
This is her first official visit to the country after being appointed to the Cabinet on May 21 following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 14th general election.
Malaysian ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Jojie Samuel, said Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, will be accompanied by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, Deputy Foreign Minister Senator Datuk Marzuki Yahya, and officials from International Trade and Industry Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Malaysian embassy in Thailand.
He said the visit is a continuity to Malaysia's effort to improve and strengthen the bilateral tie and cooperation between the two countries through series of visits by, among others, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
"Apart from building a personal rapport with Thailand's top leadership, the visit will give an opportunity to the deputy prime minister to enhance and encourage more business networking and investments between the two countries,” he said.
He said Thailand remains Malaysia's fourth biggest trade partner after China, Singapore, the United States and Japan. Over 60 percent of the US$13.07 billion (RM15.04 billion) Malaysia-Thailand trade between January and September last year comprised border trade in consumer goods, manufactured goods and raw materials through nine Malaysia-Thailand entries.
Samuel, speaking to reporters at the Malaysian embassy here, said Dr Wan Azizah and her counterpart will discuss development and progress on bilateral issues and cooperation agreed upon by the prime ministers of both countries last year.
The visit, he said, would further explore potential partnerships in fields that would benefit both economy and trade between Malaysia and Thailand including agriculture and industry sectors.
He said he visit would also see Dr Wan Azizah express support for the Thai government on its Asean chairmanship and exchange views based on its theme, "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”.
On the first day, she is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House, attend a bilateral meeting with her counterpart General Chatchai Sarikulya, visit the Thai Red Cross Children’s Home di Bangkok and attend a dinner hosted by Chatchai.
On the second day, Dr Wan Azizah will officiate the virtual launch of '7 MLD Reclamation Water Treatment Plant’, a joint venture project between Ranhill (Malaysia) and Amata Water Company Limited (Thailand) in Amata City Industrial Estate, Rayong, Thailand.
Her itinerary also include attending a business roundtable meeting with Thai industry leaders, as well as a meet-and-greet session with the Malaysian diaspora in Thailand.