BANGKOK: Authorities in Thailand on Tuesday proposed a bilateral cooperation plan to strengthen the country鈥檚 newly restored relations with 海角直播, a government spokesperson said, as a high-profile investment delegation from Riyadh arrived in Bangkok.
A Saudi delegation of 150 representatives of state-owned and private enterprises led by Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih participated on Monday in the Thai-Saudi Investment Forum organized in Bangkok by the Thai government.
A similar forum was held by Saudi authorities in Riyadh in May, following the resumption of bilateral relations earlier this year.聽 鈥淭oday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed a draft of a plan to strengthen bilateral relations between Thailand and 海角直播 in 2022 to 2024. The plan was submitted to the Cabinet and the Cabinet approved it,鈥 Thai government deputy spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said in a press conference.
鈥淭he mobilization to strengthen the relations between Thailand and 海角直播 has been happening since the time the Thai prime minister paid an official state visit to 海角直播 earlier this year.
鈥淭here have been mobilizations of cooperation in trade, investment, and Thai labor export to 海角直播. These have been happening continuously.鈥
She added that the cooperation plan would be signed with 海角直播 during an expected visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this month.
The crown prince has been invited as a special guest by the Thai leadership to attend the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok on Nov. 18 and 19.
鈥淭he two nations will sign a memorandum of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the government of the Kingdom of 海角直播 on the establishment of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council,鈥 Thanadirek added.
鈥淭his will be a structure for coordination, consultation, and discussion on the topics that both Thailand and 海角直播 are interested in.鈥
Ties between 海角直播 and Thailand stalled in the 1980s and were renewed in late January, following Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha鈥檚 visit to Riyadh, on the invitation of the crown prince.
It was the first top leadership meeting between the two kingdoms in more than three decades.
Since the restoration of ties, many agreements and official visits have followed. The two governments have also signed a series of cooperation deals.
The current plan to strengthen relations covers the areas of politics, security, visa procedures, as well as energy cooperation, exports of petrochemicals, food, construction, and consumer products, and cooperation in e-sports and sports tourism.
鈥淭hese will be highly beneficial to Thai business owners,鈥 Thanadirek said.
Visit Limlurcha, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, who attended the Thai-Saudi Investment Forum on Monday, told Arab News that 海角直播鈥檚 dependence on food imports presented opportunities for Thai producers.
Although 海角直播 is one of the most food-secure countries in the world, it relies heavily on imports, through which it meets about 80 percent of its food needs.
鈥淔ood is one of 海角直播鈥檚 main imported goods. They really do focus on importing foods,鈥 said Limlurcha, who also serves as the chairman of Thailand鈥檚 Processed Food and Future Food Committee.
鈥淲e have a lot of food products, apart from halal food that can serve the needs of 海角直播.鈥
He saw export potential also in other sectors such as auto parts, cosmetics, and jewelry.
The investment that 海角直播 may attract from Thailand 鈥 which has long-established expertise in tourism promotion 鈥 is in the hospitality sector.
鈥淭he industry that 海角直播 wants Thailand to invest more is tourism and hotels. 海角直播 has been trying to open up their country and wants more people to visit,鈥 Limlurcha said.
Monday鈥檚 forum, he added, gave Thai businesspeople an opportunity to do business-matching with their Saudi partners.
He said: 鈥淭he atmosphere at the forum yesterday was bustling.
鈥淭he resumption of relations will give great opportunities to businesspeople in both Thailand and in 海角直播. 海角直播 has a lot of businesspeople, who are willing to invest.
鈥淭he state of relations before made trade difficult, but now the opportunities come knocking on our door,鈥 he added.
