On 6 September 2012 at 12.00 hours, H.E. Mr. Jullapong Nonsrichai, Vice Foreign Minister of Thailand met with Mr. Refik Gokcek, President of the Turkish-Thai Business Council, during his visit to Istanbul during a working lunch, hosted by the Turkish-Thai Business Council. The meeting was also attended by H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of Thailand to Turkey, Ms. Pornprapai Ganjanarintr, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, and Mrs. Rattikul Chansuriya, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The participants from the Turkish side included the Business Council Board members and representatives from the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Turkey. 

 

The Vice Foreign Minister and Mr. Gokcek agreed that Thailand and Turkey attach greater importance on each other, as evidenced from the increase in trade volume by 15% from 2010 to 2011. Moreover, the two expressed their interest to use each other’s countries as a trade and investment springboard to third countries in the region – Thailand will be the base for Turkey to ASEAN countries and Turkey for Thailand to countries in Central Asia, Middle East and Northern Africa.

 

H.E. Mr. Nonsrichai expressed his support to the 2nd Annual Meeting between the Thai-Turkish and Turkish-Thai Business Councils to be in Bangkok on 21-24 October 2012. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize relevant economic government agencies in Thailand to meet with the delegation during the trip. It will also help organize a business matching between the Turkish businessmen and potential Thai business partners. 

 

The Ambassador of Thailand to Turkey and an officer from the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara will be attending the trip, with the aim to push forward all initiatives during the trip to yield concrete results. The Thai Ambassador also expressed the Royal Thai Embassy’s strong support on the upcoming “Doing Business in Thailand” Seminar to be held in Istanbul on 15 October 2012. Senior officials from relevant economic and investment agencies in Thailand will join the meeting as co-speakers or panelists to provide information on Thailand’s trade and investment potential for Turkish business people.  

 

H.E. Mr. Nonsrichai emphasized with Mr. Gokcek that Thailand is liberalized for trade and investment. The upcoming trip to Thailand will allow of the members of the Turkish-Thai Business Council to obtain accurate information on trade and investment opportunities as well as potentials for Thailand-Turkish economic cooperation. It is strongly hoped the trip will contribute to the increase in the number of bilateral trade and investments.

 

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Ms. Wichulee Chotbenjakul

Second Secretary

Royal Thai Embassy, Ankara

23 September 2012