Royal Thai Embassy Organizes “Experience Thailand 2013” in Azerbaijan for the First Time

On 12 July 2013, the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan organized the first “Experience Thailand 2013” Arts and Cultural Event in Baku, as part of activities to commemorate the 21^st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Azerbaijan.

The event covered wide-ranging activities such as Thai traditional and contemporary dances, Thai “Khon” mask making demonstration, fruits and vegetable carving, umbrella painting, Thai flag cutting and Thai massage.  Traditional ingenious Thai handicrafts and products such as gems and jewelry, house ware products, Yan Lipao vine (Lygodium Ciliare), Niellowares, leather crafts, Thai spa products and Thai hand-woven fabric were also showcased at the event.  Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) and well known Thai organizations and companies such as Blue Elephant Co.,Ltd. and the Support Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit were representatives of the Thai private and public sector at the Event.

Prior to the event, the Royal Thai Embassy arranged for the Thai business delegation to undergo market research and feasibility study regarding the potentials for the export of Thai products and produce to Azerbaijan.  Fruitful discussions were held during a business matching between the Blue Elephant Co.Ltd. and the Nipro Allied Group, a leading Azeri company, who expressed interest in importing  Blue Elephant’s products to supply and distribute, both domestically and abroad , to its supermarket chain and hotels under its business networks in the future.

H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Azerbaijan, and H.E. Ms. Sevda Mammadaliyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, both gave opening remarks that emphasized how the “Experience Thailand 2013” Event is not only an occasion to strengthen the cordial diplomatic relations between the two countries, but also promote people-to-people contacts.

H.E. the Ambassador highlighted that although this Arts and Cultural Event is a first of its kind to be held in Azerbaijan, it certainly will not be the last as well as proposing high level Azeri visits to Thailand at the first opportunity to further deepen diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The “Experience Thailand 2013” Arts and Cultural Event was well received by both the Azeri public and media, with participants expressing their keen interests in the Thai products and handicrafts exhibited and demonstrated at the Event.  The keen interest of the Azeri public at large was partly due to the Thai delegation being given the chance to promote the event on AzTV , the Azeri national radio and television station, on the morning the Arts and Culture Event was held.

During the same event, H.E. the Ambassador presented books on Thailand to H.E. the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism. The books will later be transfer to the Azerbaijan National Library as a public source of information on Thailand

In this regard, the Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara wishes to extend its appreciation to H.E. Mr. Abulfas Garayev, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ms. Sevda Mammadaliyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Royal Thai Consulate in Baku, for their strong support that contributed to the Event’s overwhelming success.

Thailand and Azerbaijan established their diplomatic relations on 7 July 1992 after Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet Union on 28 May 1991. At present, 5 Thai people reside in Azerbaijan, i.e. 4 Thai chefs and 1 Thai masseuse.

Azerbaijan is one of the Thai major trading partners in Central Asia. In 2012, trade figure between Thailand and Azerbaijan was 1.25 billion USD worth, more than double from 2011 at 676 million USD. In 2012, 1,440 Azeri tourists visited Thailand. It was believed that the “Experience Thailand 2013” Arts and Cultural Event would attract more Azeri tourists to Thailand.

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Royal Thai Embassy, Ankara

15 July 2013