Bangkok--Apr 24--MFA
Intervention by H.E. Noppadon Pattama Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand at Roundtable 4: Emergence of a new South and South-South trade as a vehicle for regional and interregional integration for development At UNCTAD XII 23 April 2008, Accra, Ghana
South-South trade as a new source of financing for development
Mr. Chairman,
I wish to thank all the panelists for their views and comments which I found most enlightening. On my part, I wish to offer Thailand’s perspective.
Mr. Chairman,
Thailand has always placed South-South cooperation high on our agenda. We see great opportunity and benefit in trade, investment and economic cooperation with our developing partners as well as a significant source of financing for development.
Rapid economic growth and increased FDI flows from China , India and a number of developing economies have led to the expansion of trade and investment in Asia. Thailand’s trade and investment with these countries have substantially increased both in volume and value. Trade with our fellow member countries of ASEAN now accounts for 21 per cent of our total exports. ASEAN’s economic integration process, coupled with the increase in bilateral and regional FTAs, have further contributed to the expansion of trade and investment in the region and beyond.
South-South Economic and Technical Cooperation as a tool for development
South-South cooperation is also about development partnership for common security and prosperity. We have therefore endeavoured to bridge the development gap and promote joint prosperity with our neighbors in the Mekong region as well as the developing countries in South and Southeast Asia. Thailand has been an active member of many sub regional economic and technical cooperation frameworks. Under these frameworks, Thailand, with the support of international financial institutions and related development agencies, has contributed to the development of transportation and communications network, trade, investment, tourism, education, public health, energy and environment. In particular, we have increasingly placed emphasis on Aid for Trade and intend to integrate it in our development cooperation strategies.
Public private partnership for development
Mr. Chairman,
Another point which I would like to underscore is the important role of the private sector and their role in mobilising innovative sources of financing. Thailand has encouraged the private sector’s investment in infrastructure development projects in particular the transportation and communications sectors as well as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The government, on its part, has facilitated a favourable legal and economic environment through trade and investment promotion and protection.
Thailand as an active development partner
Mr. Chairman,
In addition to the areas of cooperation that I have mentioned, especially with our immediate neighbours, we have expanded our partnership for development programmes now to many countries in Africa through NEPAD and TICAD. Our cooperation covers areas of mutual interests, ranging from human resource development, poverty reduction, and public health to Aid for Trade.
Thailand is ready to discuss further with our African partners ways and means to enhance our development cooperation bilaterally and on a trilateral basis with other development partners. At the multilateral level, Thailand looks forward to the exchange of experiences and best practices at the high-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation to be held in Buenos Aires.
Mr. Chairman,
South-South trade, investment and development cooperation have generated dynamism for global economic growth. Essentially, what we need is a multi-dimensional partnership for development, comprising of government, international organizations and private sector. Here, I wish to emphasize the importance UNCTAD, WTO and ITC in working individually and collectively with developing countries to realize the full potential and benefit of South-South partnership including providing technical assistance and capacity building in trade-related areas.
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
Intervention by H.E. Noppadon Pattama Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand at Roundtable 4: Emergence of a new South and South-South trade as a vehicle for regional and interregional integration for development At UNCTAD XII 23 April 2008, Accra, Ghana
South-South trade as a new source of financing for development
Mr. Chairman,
I wish to thank all the panelists for their views and comments which I found most enlightening. On my part, I wish to offer Thailand’s perspective.
Mr. Chairman,
Thailand has always placed South-South cooperation high on our agenda. We see great opportunity and benefit in trade, investment and economic cooperation with our developing partners as well as a significant source of financing for development.
Rapid economic growth and increased FDI flows from China , India and a number of developing economies have led to the expansion of trade and investment in Asia. Thailand’s trade and investment with these countries have substantially increased both in volume and value. Trade with our fellow member countries of ASEAN now accounts for 21 per cent of our total exports. ASEAN’s economic integration process, coupled with the increase in bilateral and regional FTAs, have further contributed to the expansion of trade and investment in the region and beyond.
South-South Economic and Technical Cooperation as a tool for development
South-South cooperation is also about development partnership for common security and prosperity. We have therefore endeavoured to bridge the development gap and promote joint prosperity with our neighbors in the Mekong region as well as the developing countries in South and Southeast Asia. Thailand has been an active member of many sub regional economic and technical cooperation frameworks. Under these frameworks, Thailand, with the support of international financial institutions and related development agencies, has contributed to the development of transportation and communications network, trade, investment, tourism, education, public health, energy and environment. In particular, we have increasingly placed emphasis on Aid for Trade and intend to integrate it in our development cooperation strategies.
Public private partnership for development
Mr. Chairman,
Another point which I would like to underscore is the important role of the private sector and their role in mobilising innovative sources of financing. Thailand has encouraged the private sector’s investment in infrastructure development projects in particular the transportation and communications sectors as well as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The government, on its part, has facilitated a favourable legal and economic environment through trade and investment promotion and protection.
Thailand as an active development partner
Mr. Chairman,
In addition to the areas of cooperation that I have mentioned, especially with our immediate neighbours, we have expanded our partnership for development programmes now to many countries in Africa through NEPAD and TICAD. Our cooperation covers areas of mutual interests, ranging from human resource development, poverty reduction, and public health to Aid for Trade.
Thailand is ready to discuss further with our African partners ways and means to enhance our development cooperation bilaterally and on a trilateral basis with other development partners. At the multilateral level, Thailand looks forward to the exchange of experiences and best practices at the high-level United Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation to be held in Buenos Aires.
Mr. Chairman,
South-South trade, investment and development cooperation have generated dynamism for global economic growth. Essentially, what we need is a multi-dimensional partnership for development, comprising of government, international organizations and private sector. Here, I wish to emphasize the importance UNCTAD, WTO and ITC in working individually and collectively with developing countries to realize the full potential and benefit of South-South partnership including providing technical assistance and capacity building in trade-related areas.
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-