Separately, Prajin also invited Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to visit Thailand early next year during their informal meeting at the 24th Apec Economic Leaders Meeting, according to a Government House source.
Zuckerberg responded that he would be pleased to come to the Kingdom if he had an opportunity to do so, the source said.
Earlier, it was reported that Prajin would seek to discuss with Zuckerberg about the potential for having Facebook establish a data centre in Thailand and for further business opportunities here.
A Xinhua report said Zuckerberg was in Lima to urge APEC members to join the global connectivity revolution and reap the economic benefits of doing that.
The Facebook chief listed three major challenges to connectivity: availability, affordability and awareness – but said governments also had to invest in infrastructure and recognise that connectivity was the path to achieving any goals they might have.
“I am optimistic… but also realistic about how hard this is going to be,” he said. “In order to do all these things, we first have to connect people… We need to make connectivity and connectivity infrastructure a much higher priority on each of our agendas.”
Representatives from the US-Apec Business Coalition met with Prajin, who attended the Apec meeting on behalf of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, on Saturday in the capital Lima.
Leaders from the business group told Prajin that they viewed Thailand as an important hub for trade and investment among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
The business leaders also said the government’s Thailand 4.0 and Digital Economy policies would be vital to help boost the country’s progress in future.
The US-Apec Business Coalition comprises more than 20 leading American companies from the diverse areas of mining, energy, finance, marketing and health.
Prajin told the coalition’s representatives during their meeting that Thailand was preparing for changes in the global economy, which is expected to become more stable next year. He also said that Thailand was moving towards democracy and national reforms in many areas.
“I am confident that the national reforms and the new economic strategy called Thailand 4.0 will help the country get ready for new challenges,” Prajin told the American business leaders.
Prajin also met with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in Lima on Saturday.
O’Neill thanked Thailand for investing in his country and also providing assistance when needed. Prajin agreed to a request by that Thailand should share its experiences in rice growing, tourism and public health with Papua New Guinea.
The PNG leader also invited Thai businesses to invest in the fishery, natural gas and mining sectors in his country. Papua New Guinea also called for more direct flights between the two countries and closer bilateral ties.