BANGKOK, July 3 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is visiting Poland and Turkey today through Saturday to foster relations with both countries and to expand trade and investment.
This is the first visit of the Thai premier to Poland. Ms Yingluck said the country has economic potential, while some Thais have already invested in processed agricultural products in Poland. This visit will also include cultural exchanges.
Sathaworn Subsoontorn, director of the Royal Thai Consulate-General’s Commercial Section in Warsaw, noted that as Thai-Polish trade can largely grow, the Thai government is bringing more Thai investors to Poland for more trade negotiations, while promoting more Thai investments in Poland, as the country is another goods distribution centre for other countries in the European Union.
He said Thailand has always enjoyed a trade surplus with Poland. Thai exports to Poland this year are expected to grow 5 per cent. The first four months from January-June saw an increase of Thai exports to the country of 24.6 per cent, worth over US$216 million. Exported merchandise includes computers and spare parts, vehicles, televisions, while Thailand imports machinery and electric machinery from Poland.
Concerning the prime minister’s visit to the Republic of Turkey, the premier said the country is another new market for Thailand and the leaders of both nations had not exchanged visits for eight years.
Ms Yingluck said Turkey is important to Thailand, for it is a gateway linking with China and Europe. She added that Turkey is a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and therefore supports and understands Thailand’s continuing southern situation. The premier will also take this opportunity to introduce Thai Halal products to Turkey.
Representatives from the Thai private sector are joining the prime minister’s trips to both nations to open business and investment channels to the two countries.
On this occasion, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand as well as the Federation of Thai Industries will sign cooperation agreements with both Poland and Turkey.
