Bangkok ready to host next WEF

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajjiva says Thailand is ready to host the next World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2012.

“[I’m] here to reconfirm our readiness to host next year’s World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok in May of 2012,” Abhisit told a press conference at the Shangri-La Hotel.

“There is clearly potential for Southeast Asia to play a very important role not just in economic terms but also in providing a good forum for strategic discussions on issues ranging from security to the environment,” he added.

Southeast Asia should expand cooperation to strengthen ties as the ASEAN plus three grouping did when implementing the Chiang Mai initiative or by pooling stocks for food security, Abhisit said.

“These reasons will make Southeast Asia continue to be more relevant and very important among the emerging economic powers.”

Southeast Asia is home to 600 million people and has a combined GDP of US$1.8 trillion.