Thailand PM,Yingluck Shinawatra, to be India's chief guest at Republic day parade

BANGKOK: Thailand's first woman Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be the chief guest at Republic Day parade celebrations on January 26, Thai Trade Representative Nalinee Thaweesin said here on Tuesday.

Yingluck, who became Thailand's first woman prime minister last July, will arrive in India on January 24 on a three-day official visit.

During her visit, Yingluck will hold talks on ways to increase trade and investment opportunities between the two countries, particularly in energy, petroleum and food industries.

Yingluck is the youngest sister of former premier and tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra.

Nalinee said Thailand viewed India as a major strategic economic partner because it was a big market with a population of more than 1.2 billion people.

Once the Asean economic community takes affect in 2015, Thailand could become a trade and investment gateway to the community for India, while India would be a distribution centre of Thai products to countries in the South Asia region, she added.