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On assuming office in August 2024, Paetongtarn Shinawatra became Thailand’s youngest ever Prime Minister, ushering in a new era for the nation. It comes at a pivotal moment, as talks on a Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) herald new diplomatic and economic opportunities with the UAE
In the moments after Thailand’s parliament selected Paetongtarn Shina-watra to become the nation’s next Prime Minister, she described herself as trembling with excitement. I really hope that I can make people feel confident that we can build opportunities and to improve the quality of life and to empower all Thais, she said, in remarks to assembled reporters.
As leader of the Pheu Thai party and the fourth member of the Shinawatra family to hold the position of prime minister, Paetongtarn brings a sense of duality to the role, representing both a continuation of the country’s politics and, simultaneously, a vibrant new dynamism. The country has to move ahead, she said. We are determined, together, and we will push the country forward.
Despite having never previously held elected office, Paetongtarn has led Pheu Thai since March 2022 and, as the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is steeped in her family’s political legacy. When I was eight years old, my father entered politics, she said. Since that day, my life has also been intertwined with politics. Nonetheless, Thailand’s new leader is a distinctly modern type of politician.
With more than 700,000 Instagram followers, her social media
presence dwarfs that of her party. Describing herself as a compassionate capitalist, her previous experience includes education in the UK, at the University of Surrey, and a period as deputy-CEO of the family-owned Rende Development, overseeing the launch of two of the country’s luxury hotels.
Under her leadership, Pheu Thai has previously made ambitious pledges to nearly double daily minimum wages by 2027, alongside subsidising public transport in Bangkok and expanding healthcare coverage. «I think after eight years the people want better politics, better solutions for the country,» Paetongtarn said while campaigning for Thailand’s national elections in 2023.
The UAE is Thailand’s biggest trading partner in the Middle East, with exchanges growing 73% to $US20.8 billion in 2022. The upcoming CEPA would look to increase that figure by a further 10% in the first year by enhancing economic cooperation and providing UAE investors with greater access to both Thailand’s domestic market and the wider Southeast Asian economy
With tourism another key focus of the administration’s economic plans, Thailand will also look to build on the deepening partnership between the countries to attract more UAE visitors. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Mak- toum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE were among the first world leaders to send official congratulations to Paetongtarn on taking office, and the UAE’s contribution to Thailand’s goal of receiving 55 million international arrivals in 2024 will be driven by an increase in direct flights and the introduction of UAE-specific vacation packages. With the Tourism Authority of Thailand calling the UAE «vital» to the sector’s development, efforts are already underway to drive further growth through key markets like the Middle East.
