Thai and French officials have convened at the Thailand-France Seminar on the Defense Industry 2024 to discuss enhancing their defense sectors through collaborative efforts. The event, held at the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense in Thailand, was presided over by Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang and the French Ambassador to Thailand.
The gathering follows a Letter of Intent signed on May 17 between Thailand’s Defense Industry and Energy Center and France’s Direction Generale de l’Armement. The agreement focuses on fostering investment and creating a network between Thai and French defense industries, reflecting Thailand’s strategy to develop domestic production capabilities in defense technology.
During the seminar, Sutin outlined Thailand’s plans to procure 200 billion baht worth of defense equipment over the next 20 years, including armored vehicles, warships, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and firearms and ammunition.
The discussions also built on recent diplomatic engagements, including a meeting between Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the French President in May, and Minister Sutin’s attendance at the Eurosatory 2024 exhibition in Paris in June. (NNT)
