PM unveils his vision for the country in meeting with Thai expats in the US

Government spokesman Chai Watcharong said that the prime minister met with the Thai community at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco on November 17, where he also shared his personal experiences in the US.

Srettha expressed pleasure in meeting the Thai citizens, and dwelt on his own past as a student in San Francisco for six years. He shared his challenges in finding a job in the US, which led to his return to Thailand and working for a foreign company. Srettha acknowledged that his own children were working abroad, and expressed his desire to see them return if better opportunities were available.

The PM highlighted the importance of attracting Thai talent back to the country and encouraging foreign investments. He emphasised the significance of agriculture as a dignified profession and the need to elevate its status to bring Thai workers back.

Chai said the prime minister acknowledged the positive outcomes of the past two months of travel and praised the efforts of the team across various sectors, attracting interest from companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Chinese investors.

In his political role, Srettha told the Thai expatriates that he aimed to improve the standard of living by enhancing the country's capabilities. He emphasised the need for improvements in the education system, human resource development, and geographical infrastructure. 

He affirmed the Thai government’s policy of maintaining neutrality in global conflicts, and seeking opportunities for Thailand to benefit.

The 300,000-strong community in the US is largest Thai expat community abroad. Most of them reside in California, with around 70,000 in the San Francisco and Bay Area regions. Los Angeles is home to the first "Thai Town" in the world. Nearly 200 Thai people in the US attended the meeting with the PM to show their support.