DUSHANBE, May 17, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today began an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, Foreign minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, State Advisor for Foreign Policy Erkin Rahmatulloyev, Minister of Finance Safarali Najmiddinov and Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali are accompanying President Rahmon on this trip.
President Rahmon is expected to hold talks with HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Thai Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij.
Tajikistan and Thailand are expected to sign the agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains.
While in Bangkok, President Rahmon will also attend the 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit (2nd ARWS) entitled: “Water Security ad Water-related Disaster Challenges: Leadership and Commitment.” On the sidelines of the 2nd APWS, Tajik leader will hold talks with Takehiko Nakao, President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Noelin Heiser, Deputy UN Secretary General and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Thailand is an emerging economy and considered as a newly industrialized country. Thailand exports an increasing value of over $105 billion worth of goods and services annually. Major exports include Thai rice, textiles and footwear, fishery products, rubber, jewelry, cars, computers and electrical appliances. Thailand is the world”s no.1 exporter of rice, exporting more than 6.5 million tons of milled rice annually. Rice is the most important crop in the country. Thailand has the highest percentage of arable land, 27.25%, of any nation in the Greater Mekong Subregion. About 55% of the arable land area is used for rice production Substantial industries include electric appliances, components, computer parts and cars, while tourism in Thailand makes up about 6% of the economy.
Thailand has a GDP worth US$602 billion (on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis). This classifies Thailand as the 2nd largest economy in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. Despite this, Thailand ranks midway in the wealth spread in Southeast Asia as it is the 4th richest nation according to GDP per capita, after Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.
