On 10 February 2014 H.E. Mr. Tharit Charungvat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Turkey, had a meeting with Mr. Refik Gökçek, President of the Turkey-Thailand Business Council and his accompanying delegation at the TOBB Plaza, Istanbul. Both agreed to work in concert to increase trade and investment figures between Thailand and Turkey to a higher plain, and highlighted that raising awareness on economic potentials of Thailand and Turkey for both countries’ business communities is core to achieve the goal.

H.E. the Ambassador told the Council that in order to boost mutual trade and investment, Thailand is putting efforts to have high level Turkish representatives and accompanying business delegation visit Thailand by the end of this year or first quarter of 2015. The same timeframe applies for the conclusion of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between Thailand and Turkey.  

During H.E. the Ambassador’s presentation of credentials to H.E. the President of Turkey, both discussed on the shared will to increase trade figure and agreed that bilateral trade and investment has huge potential to rise, both from Thailand to Turkey and vice versa. They strongly believe that free and fair trade will mutually benefit both countries.

In attempt to follow up H.E. the Thai Prime Minister’s Official Visit to Turkey in July 2013 where both countries agreed to conduct feasibility study on Thailand-Turkey Free Trade Agreement (FTA), H.E. the Ambassador informed the meeting that Thailand and Turkey launched the first round of feasibility study in August last year. The next technical meeting is scheduled on 18 February 2014 in Ankara. All sides share the view that FTA is a crucial mechanism which will directly benefit the private sector and thus imperative to be concluded soonest.

H.E. Mr. Tharit also conveyed the Embassy’s determined efforts to promote Thailand’s rubber and rubber parts, spa products and services, and rice, as informed by the Thai entrepreneurs. Businessmen from these sectors will be visiting to Turkey to attend the annual Thailand-Turkey Business Council Joint Meeting in Istanbul in June 2014 and will attend a business matching activity with their Turkish counterparts too.

The Royal Thai Embassy is also paving the way to promote Thai tropical fruits in Turkey and Turkish fruits in Thailand, which have high business opportunities in their respective markets. As for the Thai fruits, the Embassy is working with local distributors and retailers to establish a market in Turkey.

H.E. Mr. Tharit also attaches great importance to promoting Thailand in the eyes and ears of the Turkish as frequently as possible, and is employing various media tools, such as websites, blogs, and television programmes, to raise awareness of Thailand for the Turkish. In addition, the Embassy is organizing Thai Food Festivals in Ankara and Izmir in April-May 2014 and has a long-term plan to have Turkish film and series makers shoot their productions in Thailand.

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Royal Thai Embassy, Ankara

13 February 2014