A major business forum, set from October 8 to 10 in Bangkok, will give Qatari entrepreneurs a chance to explore various opportunities and options in Thailand and the region, the Thai embassy in Doha has said.
Hosted by the Thai government, the Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) Connect Business Forum 2016 will focus on strengthening the ACD countries’ economic competitiveness and resilience.
The embassy has invited the Qatar Chamber and Qatar Investment Authority to visit Thailand and meet with the Thailand Chamber of Commerce, Federal of Thai Industries, and relevant Thai authorities to update them on trade and investment opportunities, as well as policy in the areas of mutual interest.
“We look forward to welcoming leaders from the 34 ACD countries, including Qatar,” Thai ambassador Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum told Gulf Times.
The forum, with the sub-themes ‘Driving Asian’s Economies with Financial Technologies (FinTech)’ and ‘Financing Infrastructure in Asia’, will be held in parallel with the second ACD Summit in Bangkok.
The envoy said the summit aims to promote co-operation in six areas: connectivity – science; technology and innovation; education and human resource development; food, energy and water security nexus; tourism and culture; and alternative approaches to inclusive and sustainable development.
About investments in Thailand, he noted that Qatar invested in some properties such as hotel businesses.
“Thailand has a lot more to offer with options such as petrochemical and chemicals sectors and investment of ‘Sovereign Wealth Fund’ in bonds or in the stock market,” he said.
In Qatar, Chaiyindeepum added that a few large Thai companies are in the construction and infrastructure development while others operate a number of restaurants and spas.
The Thai government also organised and encouraged exchange visits between Thai and Qatari businesspersons and investors particularly to trade fairs and exhibitions for them to explore trade and investment opportunity, the envoy said.
Thailand’s Office of Trade Promotion, in co-operation with Qatar Chamber, recently organised a business matching fair in Doha for Thai and Qatari-based business enterprises. The envoy hopes to have more similar events in the future.
A major food exporter globally and well known as the ‘Kitchen of the World’, Chaiyindeepum said Thailand is ready to supply catering services, ready-to-eat foods and other food products for thousands of visitors in Qatar during the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Besides being famous for exquisite cuisine and talented chefs, he stressed that Thailand is also a producer of quality sports equipment and souvenirs, as well as an expert in event organising with extensive experience as host of many international sports competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games, among others.
“The embassy is ready to bring manufacturers and exporters in the above-said fields to meet with Qatari agencies to explore how we can co-operate to make the 2020 Fifa World Cup as memorable as possible,” he added.
Thai ambassador Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum.
