By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Thailand is expecting high-level visits from Qatar next year as the two countries celebrate their 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Thai Ambassador Piroon Laismit has said.
“We are looking forward to a visit of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, or some ministers,” the envoy said yesterday. The two countries are also discussing on possible activities which will be staged in Doha and Bangkok for the anniversary. Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol made a state visit to Qatar recently, and the embassy expects more exchange visits between Thailand and Qatar - government and business levels - next year.
Princess Mahidol is the granddaughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and a former Thai ambassador to Austria who works actively with Qatar, which will host the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in April 2015.
“Thailand firmly believes this upcoming conference will be a great success,” the ambassador said.
With longstanding friendship and business partnership, the envoy said the bilateral ties with Qatar continue to flourish in various fields.
On the economic side, trade and investment has been increasing every year especially in the energy sector. Qatargas has agreed to send 2mn tonnes of LNG annually for 20 years starting next year.
Siam Cement Group of Thailand and Qatar Petroleum International have invested in the Integrated Petrochemical Complex project in Southern Vietnam.
The two countries are also working hard to reach an agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection, and the agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance aimed at increasing trade and investment opportunities.
In 2013, total import from Qatar to Thailand was $4.07bn while export from Qatar totalled $378.5mn, according to the Thai embassy.
Qatar exports products such as crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, chemical products and fertiliser while the country’s imports from Thailand include cars and spare parts, air-conditioners, jewelleries, machineries and food items.
Other Thai products being exported to Qatar include preserved and canned food items such as fish, mollusks, crustaceans and dried fruits. It also exports furniture, plastic, paper, plastic products, and other appliances.
Laismit noted Qatar is one of the main energy partners of Thailand in the Middle East. In tourism, the ambassador said around 30,000 tourists from Qatar visit Thailand, mainly for medical services.
Known for their state-of-the-art technology, high standard of medical treatment and high quality of services, the Bumrungrad Hospital (American Hospital) and Bangkok Hospital (Royal Hospital) are among the top destinations of Qatari visitors.
The embassy recorded about 4,000 Thai expatriates in the country, around 2,500 in the construction sector and the rest employed at Qatar Airways as staff and cabin crews. Some others are entrepreneurs and employees of Thai restaurants and spas while the rest are housewives and students.
With numerous projects underway, Laismit said they are expecting more Thais to come to Doha in the coming years. About the current situation in Thailand, the ambassador said their government has prioritised reviving the economy, easing the burden on grassroots population, fighting corruption, improving the well-being of the Thai people, strengthening regional connectivity with Asean and engaging actively with the international community.