KUALA LUMPUR, 8 JUL – Thailand is paying greater attention to enhance connectivity along its southern provinces and Malaysia’s northern and eastern coastal states.
Thailand ambassador to Malaysia Lada Phumas stressed that whether it was physical or non-physical – infrastructure, trade, investment and tourism activities – had always been at a core of her country’s foreign ministry and embassy’s priority.
“As part of our continuous initiatives, we organise various events like the ‘Ignite Thailand in Kuala Lumpur’ with the primary objective to benefit our key players in the border area development,
“This includes equipping them with the latest progress of the Thailand-Malaysia cross border connectivity projects and the potential trade and investment opportunities.
“It also allows them to exchange knowledge and expertise between Thai-Malaysian halal industries and to explore further cooperation,” she said at the ‘Ignite Thailand in Kuala Lumpur: Enhancing Thailand-Malaysia Cross Border Connectivity Through Public-Private Partnership’ forum at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel and Convention Centre in Jalan Ampang.
Present were Malaysian Economic Ministry regional development division director Mohd Shaharin Umar, Malaysia’s former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of economy Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) deputy secretary-general Piyasiri Wattanavarangkul.
The event was organised by the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with the Department of International Trade and Promotion (DITP) Malaysia, the Centre for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Subregional Cooperation (CIMT), National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and the Malaysia-Thailand Business Council (MTBC).
Lada said that last year, her government had brought a Thai delegation to visit the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in Penang, Perlis and Kedah.
“The officials also were briefed on the construction area of the new road alignment linking the new Sadao checkpoint in Songkla, Thailand and the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah, Malaysia.
“This is an ongoing project being implemented by the Thai and Malaysian governments,” said Lada.
She added that such initiatives were to prepare Thai businesses, especially from southern Thailand, for the Malaysian halal food market.
“It is also to connect qualified Thai exporters and product producers from southern Thailand with Malaysian importers and distributors, with support from the SBPAC and NCCIM,” she said.
Lada emphasised that her government’s ‘Ignite Thailand’ vision was for Thailand to be eager and ready to become a global and regional hub in logistics, agriculture and food.
“Thailand is open for business with the current priority to reignite Thailand’s competitiveness and make Thailand a preferred investment destination.
“As recently reported by the International Institute for Management Development in the ‘World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024’, Thailand’s competitiveness rose five positions to 25th place in the ‘World Competitiveness Ranking 2024’.
“Hence, I am certain that the ‘Ignite Thailand’ event will provide a timely opportunity for the public and private sectors from both sides to exchange and discuss the latest information, knowledge and expertise.
“This will strengthen our existing and forging new partnerships towards the achievement of Thailand-Malaysia’s seamless connectivity and shared prosperity,” Lada said.
She added that another initiative was the ‘3rd Thailand-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee Meeting’ that was held recently in Kuala Lumpur.
“I strongly encourage all our distinguished participants especially the private sector to fully exploit the emerging trade and investment opportunities in response to the ongoing physical infrastructure projects being implemented along the border.
“This will prepare our workforce with the specific skills required for future work,” Lada said.- airtimes.my
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