Lankan envoy in Thailand woos bilateral economic and industrial cooperation

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne called on Minister of Industry of Thailand Suriya Jungrungreangkit recently at the Ministry.

After warmly welcoming the Ambassador, Minister Jungrungreangkit noted similarities between investment policies of both Sri Lanka and Thailand and mentioned that Thailand looked forward to increasing the trade value between the two countries. 

Exchanging expertise in the fields of food processing, gems and jewellery, fashion designing and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were identified by Minister Jungrungreangkit as areas for future cooperation. He also called for restarting the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Thailand.

While conveying warm greetings from the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Industry of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne highlighted that national security, economic development and foreign relations were the three main pillars of the national policy of the current Government, and that the State Ministry of Regional Cooperation had been established under the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka with an aim to strengthen relations with Asian countries.

Endorsing the remarks made by Minister Jungrungreangkit, the Ambassador stated that Sri Lanka was very keen to increase its trade volume, which was very minimal at present, and to accelerate cooperation in the 10 areas identified under the Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement signed with Thailand: infrastructure, gem and jewellery, the agro-industry, fisheries, tourism, SMEs, financial cooperation, packaging and IT.

The One Tambon One Product (OTOP) program in Thailand, which was implemented as the One Village One Product (OVOP) program in Sri Lanka, based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Business-to-Business (B2B) partnerships for joint ventures, investment are among the other areas discussed.

Minister Jungrungreangkit also directed the Federation of Thai Industries and his senior officials on the avenues for future cooperation in ilmenite, graphite, electronics, pharmaceuticals, vehicles and spare parts and tea industries in Sri Lanka, at the request of the Ambassador.

Ambassador Colonne also extended an invitation to Minister Jungrungreangkit to visit Sri Lanka on a future date.

Department of Industrial Promotion Director General Nattapol Rangsitpo, Director Pratana Bunyarit, Ministry of Industry Office of Industrial Economics Deputy Director General Siripen Kiatfuengfoo, and First Secretary Saritha Ranatunga from the Mission in Bangkok joined the discussion.