BANGKOK, May 16 (Bernama): Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia - aimed at boosting bilateral ties and promote cooperation on politics, economic, trade and investment.
In a statement, Thai Foreign Ministry said Don’s visit from May 15 to 18 is joined by 78 representatives from 28 government agencies and 57 representatives from 39 private companies.
"The official visit is aimed to promote bilateral cooperation after the normalisation of Thailand-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations, and to steer forward cooperation which both countries agreed to enhance following the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha's official visit in January.
"This visit will also strengthen interactions and coordination between government agencies at both bilateral and multilateral level, create job opportunities for Thai workers in Saudi Arabia, and enhance the export of Thai products to Saudi Arabia,” according to the statement.
During the visit, Don is scheduled to meet Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Investment Minister, Tourism Minister, and Energy Minister.
The deputy prime minister is also scheduled to witness the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the government of Thailand and government of Saudi Arabia on the establishment of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council, and the Memorandum of Understanding between Saudi-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
"The deputy prime minister will also give an opening remark at the Saudi-Thai Investment Forum 2022, a fora where Thai-Saudi private and public sectors will exchange knowledge and expertise to promote trade and investment cooperation. (A total of) 300 participants are expected to join this event,” the statement said.
Besides that, Don is scheduled to participate in an event held by the Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh to promote Thailand’s Halal food industry.
Since the normalisation of the relations, both sides have pushed forward bilateral cooperation in all aspects, especially security, trade and investment, labour, public health, education, agricultural, communications and information technology.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the governor of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth funds, Public Investment Fund (PIF), Yasir al-Rumayyan, paid a courtesy call on Prayuth at the Air Force base 6 (DMK) in Bangkok, yesterday.
Thanakorn said Prayuth and Rumayyan took the opportunity to exchange views on mutual relations and cooperation in various areas, such as tourism, sports, e-sports, and soft power.
"Saudi Arabia hopes to have further business dialogues with Thailand to enhance trade and investment opportunity, and to use Thailand as its production base in the region,” he said in a statement.
Thanakorn said the PIF Governor informed Prayuth that he was enjoined by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to discuss with the Prime Minister on reinforcement of cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade and investment, and energy including gas exploration.
He said Thailand stands ready to further advance relations and cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Thailand and Saudi Arabia had fully normalised their diplomatic relations after an official meeting in Riyadh between Prayuth and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince in January this year. The announcement put an end to three decades of soured relations between the countries. - Bernama
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