Efforts to boost tourism in the southern islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao are underway as the government tackles pressing issues such as water shortages and illegal businesses.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sermsak Pongpanich recently engaged with entrepreneurs from Surat Thani's Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan islands to address the province's pressing tourism challenges.
Koh Samui district Chief Kampanat Klinsaowakon noted a marked improvement in tourism since late last year, with a significant influx of tourists, particularly those arriving by cruise ship.
Tourism growth, however, is being stifled by infrastructure problems, including inadequate water supplies, road safety concerns, and traffic congestion due to the increased number of visitors.
President of the Koh Samui Tourism Association, Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, pointed out that the island's infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with the rising number of tourists. He highlights how Koh Samui lacks a cruise ship pier despite over 40 cruise ships scheduled to visit this year.
Small boats are currently employed to transfer passengers ashore, creating inconvenience and delays that impede tourism growth. He further underlines the persistent issues of water shortages and power outages that plague business operators, particularly during peak tourist seasons.
Koh Pha Ngan faces similar infrastructure woes, with the island also dealing with land ownership disputes and tourist safety concerns, especially during the Full Moon Party events.
Ratchaporn adds that many business operators in Koh Samui are still grappling with the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, advocating for lower interest rates and increased access to credit.
Additionally, there are calls for the government to intensify efforts against illegal businesses, promote legitimate land ownership, and address nominee investment issues.
The concerted push to resolve these challenges aims to bolster the tourism sector, ensuring sustainable growth and improved visitor experiences in these popular Thai destinations.
Thailand falls by more than 10 places in tourism ranking
Tourists travel on a Tuk Tuk taxi near Ratchaprasong intersection. (File photo: Somchai Poomlard)
Tourism operators are disappointed with the government for failing to improve the country's position in the travel and tourism development index, after Thailand dropped to 47th place, from 36th, in the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) index.
The decrease was also larger than the decline seen in the 2021 index, when Thailand fell from 35th to 36th place, which was attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Among Southeast Asian nations, three countries outperformed Thailand – Singapore, which was ranked 13th, followed by Indonesia (22nd) and Malaysia (35th). Compared to 2019, Thailand also fell by six spots and lagged the global average of 117 countries by 3.9%.
Thailand, which was classified as an upper-middle income country in this index, had the lowest score in tourist services and infrastructure at 2.18 of 7, while the overall index of infrastructure and services also secured a low average score of 3.61.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), said the index proved that the post-pandemic tourism rebound was dependent on existing selling points rather than improving and developing services and infrastructure.
"Since the previous government, we've been disappointed that the master plan for developing the tourism industry didn't take shape. The current government might have a good initiative to lure tourists, such as the visa-free scheme, but in terms of planning for an improvement in infrastructure and services, we still haven't see a difference from the previous government," he said.
Mr Sisdivachr said Atta and other tourism associations under the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations will submit a white paper to Tourism Minister Sermsak Pongpanich on May 30 when he is scheduled to join Atta's monthly meeting.
The white paper sets out threats and obstacles to the development of the tourism industry in Thailand, which requires a concrete long-term plan, along with greater effort and collaboration from all stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors.
Mr Sisdivachr said the current government has wasted too much time on visiting provinces during the cabinet meeting roadshows over the past few months, which meant the tourism minister was not able to focus on his core responsibility, which is to improve the quality of the tourism experience.
He said not every province that the cabinet visited has the potential to boost its tourism revenue.
Instead of providing support that lacks focus, the government should select provinces that offer great potential in terms of attractions and resources and should have started planning necessary infrastructure since the start by gauging possible demand in each province, such as enhancing their air and land connectivity.
He said that over the past nine months, the tourism industry has not been able to rapidly progress as the tourism minister's position had been shuffled, resulting in a lack of continuity.
"If the current government can still not expedite the tourism development plan or solve existing obstacles, our ranking in the WEF index might again drop lower than this," said Mr Sisdivachr.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin leads a meeting of economic ministers at Government House on Monday, after his return from overseas. (Photo: Government House)
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has accepted the result of a new poll showing him in a distant fourth place among those positioned to take the job, saying that he respects the people's opinion.
The prime minister was responding to questions about the survey conducted by King Prajadhipok's Institute. He said the delayed passage of the budget was not an excuse for his poor popularity.
"The survey reflects the opinions of the people. We have to respect the results," he said.
The poll released on Sunday showed him in fourth place with only 8.7% support in a list of seven candidates for the premiership if a general election were called soon.
Move Forward Party chief adviser Pita Limjaroenrat comfortably led the list, followed by former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnviraul, former Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit and Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwon were behind him.
Favourites for prime minister
Pita Limjaroenrat 46.9%
Prayut Chan-o-cha 17.7%
Paetongtarn Shinawatra 10.5%
Srettha Thavisin 8.7%
Anutin Charnviraul 3.3%
Jurin Laksanawisit 1.7%
Gen Prawit Wongsuwon 0.4%
Move Forward would win 208 seats if elections were held soon, almost twice as many as Pheu Thai with an estimated 105 seats. Bhumjaithai would get 61 seats, followed by the Thai Nation Party, 34, Gen Prawit's party with 30 seats and the Democrats with merely 22 seats.
The poll was conducted from May 7-18 with 1,620 resondents randomly picked from eligible voters in all provinces across the country, including Bangkok.
King Prajadhipok's Institute put the survey error rate at plus or minus 5%.
Starting 27 May, users of mobile banking services in Thailand must ensure that the name registered with their SIM card matches the name on their bank account. This crackdown targets over a million "mule accounts," used fraudulently.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTTC) advises users to dial *179*ID number# to verify their registration details. If the names do not align, mobile banking services will be blocked until corrections are made at a service centre.
Previously, it was possible to have a bank account registered under one name and use a SIM card registered under another name. However, due to increasing incidents of "mule accounts" and fraudulent activities, the government has introduced new regulations.
Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Mr. Prasert Chanratwongthong, emphasised that these measures are essential for curbing financial fraud. If mismatches are detected, a notification will be sent through mobile banking apps, advising users to rectify the information. If not corrected within the given timeframe, the bank account remains usable, but mobile banking services will be inaccessible.
Currently, Thailand has 106 million mobile banking accounts, with an estimated 30 million having mismatched registration details. The government aims to shut down about 100,000 mule accounts each month through these measures.
General Nathorn Phosunsorn, head of NBTTC's legal committee, stated that the agency will review and match data from commercial banks and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to identify discrepancies. The entire verification process is set to be completed within 120 days.
Thus, mobile operators, banks, and NBTTC are jointly working to notify and update account details to prevent fraudulent activities effectively. The government is determined to tighten security and protect citizens from online crimes.
Charter Court trial of PM makes foreign investors hesitant to invest
9 mins ago
Foreign investors may hesitate to invest in Thailand due to concerns over the Thai government's stability, now that the Constitutional Court has accepted for consideration the petition by a group of 40 senators, claiming that the court should remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for alleged violation of ethical standards for the appointment of Phichit Chuenban as PM Office minister.
Phichit resigned ahead of the court's decision to accept the petition.
Kriangkrai Thiennukul, president of the Federation of Thai Industries (FDI), said that the court's decision has affected the confidence of corporate executives, to the extent that they may wait and see how the political situation pans out before investing.
Although the court decided not to suspend the prime ministerduring their deliberations, Kriangkrai said that there is already a risk, adding that some investors have asked for how long the case will drag on, before there is a decision by the court, and whether the promises given by the government regarding some investment projects will be kept.
Meanwhile, Tanit Sorat, vice president of Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai), said that the case has impacted the government's stability and that the cabinet may be reshuffled again, which will affect the government's policies and the economic situation.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has returned to Thailand and summarized his recent missions to France, Italy, and Japan, highlighting key achievements and discussions from each visit.
In France, the prime minister participated in the Thailand - France Business Forum, addressing nearly 100 Thai and French businesses from various sectors, including transportation, logistics, energy, construction, food, hotel, and retail. Several agreements were signed, particularly in security and defense. France confirmed its support for Schengen visas for Thailand, increased flights between the two countries, and invited Thailand to participate in an AI conference next year. Discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron also covered economic, political, and social dimensions, as well as various international issues.
In Italy, Srettha engaged with key businesses in fashion, agriculture, food, banking, finance, and energy. He met with representatives from Zegna, Loro Piana, Versace, and Bvlgari, showcasing indigo-dyed fabric and woven products. The Don Koi model from Sakon Nakhon province was presented for potential collaboration. In agriculture, he visited cheese and meat processing plants, discussing certification and quality control methods. In finance, talks with Intesa Sanpaolo explored joint ventures. Energy and transportation discussions with companies such as Eni, Leonardo, Generali, and Ducati focused on renewable energy, training centers, insurance market expansion, and promoting E-bikes. The premier also evaluated the feasibility of hosting Formula 1 races in Thailand by visiting the Imola Circuit, with plans to potentially host races by 2027-2028.
In Japan, Srettha delivered a keynote speech at the Nikkei Forum Future of Asia, emphasizing Thai-Japanese economic cooperation. He held meetings with key Japanese companies, including Mitsui, Ajinomoto, Sony, MUFG, Soft Bank, and Nidec. Discussions focused on green energy policies, enhancing agricultural capabilities, expanding semiconductor production, and investing in high-tech manufacturing. Nidec announced plans to invest 1.7 billion baht in Thailand in 2024 and proposed extending internships for Thai students to develop local labor skills.
According to the prime minister, a team of officials from the Board of Investment and the chairman of the Thailand Trade Representative is scheduled to visit Osaka on June 20-21 to follow up on the discussed initiatives.
Thailand's Public Health Minister, Somsak Thepsutin, has announced that only cannabis buds will be reclassified as Category 5 narcotics, leaving the rest of the marijuana plant legal. This decision aims to clarify the nation's cannabis regulations following Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's pledge to recriminalise marijuana.
In this new directive, parts of the cannabis plant such as leaves, branches, roots, stems, and seeds remain unaffected by the ban. The focus is solely on the buds, which contain psychoactive compounds used for recreational purposes. This announcement provides relief to many in the cannabis industry who feared a broader crackdown.
In 2022, the Public Health Ministry, with approval from the Narcotics Control Board, removed marijuana and hemp from Thailand's Category 5 narcotics list. However, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's campaign to reinstate restrictions on marijuana has led to widespread uncertainty.
Somsak's clarification reassures businesses that only the buds are targeted. "The directive will specify regulations on planting, possessing, importing, exporting, and utilising the parts of the marijuana plant that remain legal," he stated.
The minister also confirmed that hemp would not be relisted as a drug. He emphasised that cannabis-related activities would require permissions, primarily for medical, research, and other legitimate purposes.
He assured that the new system of permissions will not impose excessive burdens and will clearly define the qualifications for individuals or businesses to engage in cannabis-related activities, ensuring transparency and ease of compliance.
Somsak promised a phased approach to implementing these new regulations, including a clear timeline for enforcement. This will give businesses ample time to adjust to the new legal landscape, aiming to mitigate any disruption to the burgeoning cannabis sector.
With these measures, Thailand seeks to balance public health concerns while offering some stability to the cannabis industry, aligning with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's vision.
TOP: File photo: A person sits outside a cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A surprising feature of Thai coups is their popularity with some members of the public. (Photo Wikipedia)
The Thai government aims to rewrite the military-inspired charter to prevent coup makers from being regarded as sovereign or legitimate rulers. Moreover, a new law is expected to give the prime minister the authority to sack generals suspected of plotting to overthrow the legitimate authorities. Pheu Thai deputy leader Chusak Sirinil said the plan was to prevent wannabe coup leaders from appearing legitimate in the eyes of the public.
This isn't the first time. In 2013 there was a similar bill before a parliamentary subcommittee which promptly collapsed amid political bickering. During the May 2023 general election, Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat advocated that army generals should be restricted from entering politics and that compulsory military conscription should end. These notions were promptly placed in the bin and the Move Forward party consigned to the back benches.
In a 2024 NIDA poll, most respondents did not believe Thai coups are a thing of the past. Ken Connor in his book on military interventions wrote that there is a strong coup culture in Thailand, even an addiction. Putsches have occurred on average every seven years in the last century. Many members of the public actually expect the army to intervene once the political situation boils over into violence on Bangkok streets: that is precisely what happened in the most recent coup of May 2014. Life quickly returned to normal, the trains and buses ran on time and opposition to the army quickly faded away.
Neither the Thai press nor the courts opposed that coup, nor indeed any of its predecessors. Politicians tend to maneuver for position. In 2014 a Cabinet minister of the Yingluck-led civilian administration (when the coup occurred) actually ended up as the justice minister in the new military government. Even if a future coup maker tore up the constitution, which authority would challenge him? The technical agency would be the constitutional court which does not to date have a convincing record in opposing the generals.
It is also possible to argue that a coup is not really a coup. In 2021, the army in Myanmar displaced the civilian government but the generals claimed they were within the law as chronic voting fraud had made the country ungovernable and its parliament illegitimate. In May 2014 the Thai army introduced martial law under a 1914 act, stressing that the reason was solely public security and nothing to do with a coup. Two days later Government House was under military occupation and supreme power vested in the army leader. Army spokesmen claimed it was the public will.
Thailand does not presently appear to have the mechanisms to enforce a constitutional or legislative answer. The stark reality is that only failed coups are illegal. Successful ones by definition bestow the levers of power on a new regime inevitably claiming to be acting in the national interest. As Barbara Tuchman noted, "To put on the garment of legitimacy is the first aim of every coup." The big question is whether it will work again in Thailand.
Det har vært mange som har lurt på om og eventuelt hvordan SAS vil fly til Thailand kommende vinter. Nå har SAS offentliggjort sitt vinterprogram, og de melder om flere avganger enn forrige vinter.
SAS starter opp igjen ruten til Bangkok i slutten av oktober. Da har selskapet byttet allianse fra Star Alliance til SkyTeam, og mange har lurt på hvor mange avganger i uken SAS kommer til å ha. For mens Star Alliance hadde 20 daglige avganger fra Europa til Bangkok, har SkyTeam bare 2.
Mens SAS fløy tre ganger i uken mellom København og Bangkok forrige vinter, starter de denne vinteren opp med fire ukentlige avganger. Dette øker til fem i desember og fra slutten av januar til starten av mars vil de øke til daglige avganger. Ruten skal flys med flytypen Airbus A350-900 som byr på tre ulike kabinklasser ombord. SASBusiness, SAS Plus og SASGo.
Ulike avgangstider annenhver dag
Mens det tidligere har vært nattflyvninger begge veier, har SAS til vinteren når de starter med daglige avganger ulike flytider hver annen dag. Rutetidene vil da se slik ut:
København – Bangkok:
Avgang kl 14:15tirsdager, torsdager, lørdager og søndager. Ankomst 07:30 neste dag
Avgang kl 23:55mandager, onsdager og fredager. Ankomst 17:10 neste dag
Bangkok – København
Avgang kl 09:45mandager, onsdager, fredager og søndager. Ankomst 16:50 samme dag.
Avgang kl 23:50tirsdager, torsdager, lørdager. Ankomst 06:55 neste dag
The sky was overcast and looked stormy in Nakhon Ratchasima on Tuesday. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)
The annual wet season is officially here, with heavy rain reported over at least 60% of the upper regions of the country.
The Meteorological Department on Tuesday announced the end of the summer season on May 20 and commencement of the rainy season.
In upper Thailand, heavy rain has been reported over at least 60% of the region for three consecutive days, the department said.
Trade winds blowing over Thailand at around 1,500 metres in height had changed direction. Southwest winds would continuously carry moisture over the land from the Andaman Sea.
At about 10,000 metres height, the winds had changed direction to blow from the east.
With these conditions, the rainy season had started in Thailand, the department said.
The rainy season in upper Thailand was expected to end in mid-October, while heavy rain in the South, particularly on the east coast, would continue to pound the region until mid-January.
The department's immediate forecast is for heavy rain in areas in the North, Northeast, Central Plains and East and on the south coast, from May 21-24.
Residents are warned to prepare for heavy to very heavy rain, runoff and possible flash flooding during this period.
Dessvärre blockerad artikel men…." 30.000 flere passagerer efter SAS-entré til Bangkok
SAS tilbyder fra januar 2025 daglige flyvninger mellem København og Bangkok. Rutetrafikken til Thailand er blevet øget med op imod 30.000 passagerer siden SAS' tilbagekomst på ruten.
Den 30. oktober sidste år vendte SAS tilbage til Bangkok-ruten fra København efter 10 års fravær. I første omgang med tre ugentlige afgange i vintertrafikprogrammet, men det er tilsyneladende gået så godt, at SAS opjusterer kapaciteten i den..."
On May 19th, 2024, Thailand's first survey center, NIDA Poll, publicly revealed a survey between May 14th to 15th from 1,310 individuals on a proposal to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic illegal drug.
The data was collected from 1,310 individuals aged over 15 in a wide range of careers and incomes across Thailand, according to NIDA. The survey was made by a multi-stage sampling method on phone interviews. It was reported that the confidence value was at 97% in the results being accurate by the surveyors.
According to a survey on public opinions regarding considering cannabis as a narcotic, 53.74% of respondents agreed but said it also has medical and economic benefits, 33.59% agreed and said cannabis has no benefits, 11.60% disagreed, and 1.07% were unsure.
Regarding public opinions on the government's cannabis policy, 74.58% of respondents indicated that it should be for medical and therapeutic purposes only, 19.39% indicated that the government should not implement any policy to support cannabis or cannabis products, 10.53% believed it should support legal cannabis products with 7.40% for boosting general public income, 3.21% for supporting recreational purposes, and 0.99% were unsure or did not answer.
On the issue of reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic, 60.38% of respondents strongly agreed, 15.27% somewhat agreed, 14.50% strongly disagreed, 8.93% somewhat disagreed, and 0.92% were unsure or did not answer.
Concerning compensation for cannabis farmers or businesses if cannabis is reclassified as an illegal narcotic, 46.95% of respondents believed the government should not compensate anyone, 35.03% thought the government should compensate both cannabis farmers and businesses, 10.08% said only farmers should be compensated, 2.06% said only cannabis businesses should be compensated, and 5.88% were unsure or did not answer.
Lastly, regarding their experiences with cannabis, 68.93% of respondents reported having no experience with cannabis, and 31.07% had some experience. Among those with cannabis experience (407 respondents), 52.58% had used it in food or drinks, 34.64% had smoked or consumed it, 22.36% had used it for medical purposes, 15.97% had grown cannabis, and 0.98% had experience with commercial cannabis product processing and trading.
Pro-cannabis groups have already been protesting the proposal and delivering legal threats and formal letters to the Thai government, protesting the proposal that would basically recriminalize cannabis in Thailand except for medical use with strict government regulations, ending the ability for people to grow small amounts at home and potentially causing people to face the possibility of high fines and extensive jail sentences for even small amounts of marijuana.
The ongoing debate over what to do about cannabis in Thailand, with both sides of the debate having polar opposite views, has gone on for two years since cannabis was decriminalized but opposition fought finalizing laws to regulate the industry, leaving it in a legal grey area to this date.
Bangkok-A recent gala evening in Bangkok was dedicated to children who have difficult childhoods. Queen Silvia of Sweden, who founded "The World Childhood Foundation" decades ago, has helped raise over 60 million dollars worldwide. In Bangkok, the event was organized in collaboration with the Thai organization "Safeguardkids," which also contributes significant funds nationally.
Over four million baht were donated during the evening, attended by only 70 guests including Dr. Darin Phanthusak, a prominent figure in this organization, is well-known in Pattaya and co-owns establishments such as Tiffany's Theatre, Woodland Hotel, La Ferme, and La Baguette.
Despite the festive atmosphere and Queen Silvia dancing to ABBA's hit "Dancing Queen" (a song composed for her wedding), the evening's serious purpose remained at the forefront for all attendees.
Queen Silvia's Childhood Foundation currently supports more than 115 programs across 17 countries, including Belarus, Brazil, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Nepal, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, and the United States. The foundation actively raises awareness about children's rights and combats child exploitation worldwide. Its offices are located in São Paulo (Brazil), New York City (USA), and Munich/Berlin (Germany), with headquarters in Stockholm (Sweden).
The new Eastern Economic Corridor visa breaks new ground by stipulating a specific zone.
Newly added to the range of longstay visas comes the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) option for foreign investors in three eastern provinces which include Chonburi. The EEC visa, which allows multiple entries, offers automatic work permit procedures for targeted industries, and a discounted rate of 17 percent income tax for specialists, executives, professionals and (if necessary) dependants.
The EEC visa duration is actually linked to the life of the holder's work permit and is considered an investor type. There is obviously overlap with LTR which, however, is not linked to certain provinces and is much broader covering wealthy retirees, digital nomads with contracts and world travellers as well as executives. The benefits are similar – reduced income tax, avoidance of 90 days reporting and airport perks – but the EEC visa is specifically linked geographically to investment in high-tech industries and sunrise initiatives such as robotics, petrochemical, healthcare, tourism and biotechnology.
In recent years, Thailand has diversified its longstay visa regulations to encourage the overseas wealthy to make a base here. These include the Elite visa introduced in 2003, which has had a controversial history, the O/X 10 year visa for retirees from 2016 (not popular because of its bureaucracy) and the Long Term Residence started last year. The new EEC visa also illustrates the growing involvement of government agencies such as the Board of Investment, in addition to the immigration bureau, in the granting of longstay visas.
European Union trade and cooperation pact with Thailand to be finalised this year. It will include visa-free access for Thai passport holders. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to visit France and Italy next week as the kingdom cements closer ties with the bloc.
The government is confident that a new trade and cooperation framework will be unveiled this year with the European Union. Among the provisions will be visa-free access to the Schengen zone for Thai passport holders. It will also include a free trade agreement, which will boost Thailand's efforts to attract inward investment. The news comes ahead of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's visit to France and Italy this week.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee announced that Thailand hoped to finalise a free trade pact with the European Union this year.
Talks with the 27-member bloc commenced in September in Brussels. Afterwards, the second leg of the talks was held in Bangkok in January 2024. The final stage of talks is due to take place within the European Union in June.
Minister Jakkapong was formerly deputy minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the end of April cabinet reshuffle.
Thailand-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation pact to include a provision for Thai nationals to enjoy visa-free access to the EU Schengen zone
In addition to the trade aspect, the minister talked of Thailand ratifying a Thailand-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement this year. Part of this pact will be the green light for Thai passport holders to access the Schengen zone without a visa.
The Schengen zone includes 26 European Union countries and Iceland. In particular, it excludes Ireland which has a Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom.
'The FTA will not only stimulate economic growth in both regions but also benefit their businesses and supply chain,' Minister Jakkapong explained. He was attending an event organised by the European Union in Thailand to mark Europe Day on May 9th.
'To allow more convenient people-to-people connectivity, Thailand hopes for support from the EU to allow Thai nationals to enter the Schengen zone without the visa requirement.'
Thailand needs European Union access to compete for investment with Vietnam. Lack of access to the key market has impeded the kingdom's efforts since 2020
In addition, a free trade pact and easier access to the European Union market will help Thailand attract inward investment. Since the 2020 pact between the European Union and Vietnam, Thailand has been at a disadvantage against its key competitor for inward investment.
The news came at the event last Wednesday, in Bangkok at the Conrad Hotel.
Mr David Daly, the European Union ambassador to Thailand, addressed a business and diplomatic gathering. In short, it was to celebrate Europe Day. At length, he explained the background to the occasion.
It was to celebrate 74 years since the Schuman Declaration. This was issued by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Schuman, on May 9th, 1950.
In short, it was an agreement among the founders of the European Coal and Steel Community. The members of the 6 nation alliance agreed to work together and pool resources in relation to coal and steel production.
The founding countries were France, West Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Afterwards, the European Economic Community emerged and expanded from this alliance in 1957.
In turn, this entity grew and changed its name to become the 27-member European Union bloc today.
Bilateral trade between European Union and Thailand worth €1 billion a week or ฿39.7 billion
On Wednesday, Mr Daly revealed that bilateral trade between Thailand and the European Union now amounted to €1 billion a week or ฿39.7 billion. He is confident that a new free trade pact will certainly boost this figure.
At the same time, the European Union bloc is also, at this time, Thailand's third-largest source of inbound investment. In short, the 27-member bloc has created over 160,000 jobs in Thailand.
In addition, it is the kingdom's second most important tourism market after China.
The European Union ambassador especially praised Thailand's diplomatic efforts to bring peace to Myanmar. He also praised the kingdom's ongoing campaign to prevent illegal fishing and stamp out labour abuses within the industry.
Prime Minister set to visit Europe on a 6-day trip
The news comes ahead of a 6-day visit to Europe this week from May 15thto 21st by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The focus of the PM's visit will be France and Italy.
On a previous trip in March, Mr Srettha developed a strong rapport with French President Emmanuel Macron. On this trip, the French leader will convene the Thailand-France Business Forum.
The Thai leader will promote the government's 'Ignite Thailand 2025' initiative in both countries.
Later in May, Mr Srettha will again visit Japan to meet key business leaders and participate in the Nikkei Forum.
That visit will be from May 22nd to 24th. This is a speaking forum which will be held this year in Tokyo. The theme will be 'Asian leadership in an uncertain world'.
The Prime Minister is expected to meet many key business leaders and industrialists.
'It is a good opportunity to encourage further investment in Thailand,' Mr. Srettha explained to his followers on the social media site X.
