During the first day of his official visit to the Republic of Turkey, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met with the President of the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUKSON), Mr. Rizanur Meral, and other executives of the Confederation, to discuss how to promote closer economic, trade and investment ties between Thailand and Turkey.
The Foreign Minister briefed the Confederation about the latest economic situation in Thailand, including the Thai Government’s economic liberalization policy as well as its efforts to support and facilitate the role of the private sector as the Kingdom’s main engine of economic growth. He highlighted Thailand’s strategic location in Southeast Asia, making it a natural hub and economic gateway to the rest of the region and beyond. Both sides also discussed promising areas in which the private sectors of both countries could work together, especially in such areas as construction, agriculture and agricultural production, energy and irrigation. Regarding the political situation in Thailand, the Foreign Minister noted that both countries were aspiring democracies, secular and enjoyed a liberal outlook at the political level.
With a view to promote closer economic interactions between Thailand and Turkey, both sides concurred that the Confederation should send a mission to the Kingdom to meet with the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Board of Trade. Such a mission would also provide the Confederation with an opportunity to explore for itself the economic and investment opportunities available in Thailand as well as to discuss with its Thai counterparts how both could work together as partners to promote business ventures in their respective regions. At the same time, should a Thai business delegation visit Turkey, the Confederation also expressed readiness to organize business matching events to promote closer economic partnerships between both sides.
Later that same day, the Foreign Minister met with Dr. Ismail Hakki Kadi, a fellow researcher with the British Institute to exchange views on Siam-Ottoman Empire relations.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th