PRIME Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand is expected in the country today for a three-day visit.

During her visit she will witness the signing of six contracts between Tanzania and Thailand. She will also spend a day in Serengeti National Park, one of the country's Seven Wonders of Africa.

Prime Minister Shinawatra's visit is aimed at forging closer ties in trade and investments between the two countries. President Jakaya Kikwete will receive the Thai Premier at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA). She will be arriving from a visit to Mozambique.

The six contracts include Trade and Economic Cooperation, Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation, Exchange of prisoners between Tanzania and Thailand and Memorandum of Understanding on Geology and Mineral Resources Management.

Others are a Memorandum of Understanding on promotion and safeguarding investments between Tanzania and Thailand, Memorandum of Understanding on National Parks and Wildlife Management and a Draft Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Food Security, Agricultural Products and Commodities.

She will be accompanied by a 100-strong delegates from different sectors including hospitality, agriculture, health and minerals. The delegates will attend a business forum on "Thailand-Tanzania Common Challenges, Shared Destiny" organised by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC).

There will also be a miniexhibition to show Thai products. The Thai delegation will also meet with the country's private-sector foundation and the TIC Prime Minister Shinawatra will spend the whole day on August 1 (Thursday) in Serengeti National Park where she will be briefed on how Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) manages and runs national parks.

The Serengeti National Park is among three natural tourist sites in the country, declared among the Seven Wonders of Africa. The other two are the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Serengeti National Park was declared the best among the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. Briefing reporters on the visit in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Saidi Meck Sadiki, said the Thai Prime Minister will arrive at JNIA at around 12:30 pm.

Mr Sadiki said after the arrival, the Prime Minister would inspect a guard of honour to be mounted by members of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF).

"Upon her arrival, different traditional dancing troupes will entertain the prime minister before heading for the State House, where she will sign different bilateral agreements with the government," said the RC.

Mr Sadiki pointed out that four roads including Nyerere, Gerezani and Sokoine will be closed for the moment to allow motorcades of the two leaders to pass and they will be free at 1:30 pm. "I call upon Dar es Salaam residents to turn out in big numbers to welcome the Prime Minister of Thailand in areas where the motorcades will pass," said the RC.