On 28 May 2014, H.E. Mr. Tharit Charungvat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of Turkey, gave interviews to four Turkish media on Thai-Turkish relations, current trade and investment cooperation between Thailand and Turkey and its future prospect, development on solution of the far south of Thailand, and the Thai Food and Culture Festival held at the Swissotel Ankara on 28 April – 3 May 2014.

H.E. the Ambassador gave interview to the Anadolu News Agency on the closer relations between Thailand which will soon be upgraded into strategic partners, closer economic ties, including the ongoing talks on Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, positive development on the three southern border provinces of Thailand, and Thailand’s readiness for the ASEAN Community in 2015.

On the same day, H.E. Mr. Tharit gave separate interviews on the Thai Food and Culture Festival to journalists from the Milliyet newspaper, TRT TV Channel, and Mag Magazine.

“Thai food is world-renowned. From the CNN’s survey on the world’s top 50 dishes, 7 dishes of Thai food are on the list. However, Thai food has not gained wide popularity in Turkey as yet. The Royal Thai Embassy therefore organized the Thai Food and Culture Festival to introduce Thai food, Thai fruits and Thai culture to the Turkish people,” said H.E. the Ambassador.

The Royal Thai Embassy in cooperation with the Swissotel Ankara organized the Thai Food and Culture Festival on 29 April – 3 May 2014. Consecutively, the Embassy will cooperate with the Swissotel Grand Efes to hold the same event on 6-10 May 2014.

The Embassy brought six Thai dance artists from Thailand to perform traditional Thai shows to guests attending the event. Illustration of Thai umbrella painting and fruit carving is also at the event to showcase Thai refined culture.

At present around 60,000 Turkish tourists visit Thailand annually. It is hoped that the Thai Food and Culture Festival will boost the number of Turkish tourists to Thailand.

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Royal Thai Embassy

30 April 2014