PM will visit Bahrain to promote trade and investment

BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit Bahrain from April 24 to 26 to discuss bilateral trade and investment and solve trade barriers. Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said Gen Prayut was invited to pay the visit by his Bahrain counterpart Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and she would accompany the prime minister on the trip. Thailand would propose to support food security for Bahrain and hope the latter would assist in its energy security. Besides, Thailand expected both countries to be each other’s gateway for their overseas business, Ms Apiradi said. On the occasion, Thailand would ask Bahrain to import Thai food and farm products and recommend Thai health tourism packages to its people. The value of bilateral trade between Thailand and Bahrain averaged US$447.78 million annually in the past five years. Bahrain is the 63rd most important trading partner of Thailand worldwide and the 9th most important trading partner in the Middle East. The bilateral trade value amounted to $300.59 million last year, falling 26% from 2015. It formed 0.07% of the overall trade value of Thailand which posted a trade surplus worth $79.5 million with Bahrain. The value of Thai exports to Bahrain amounted to $190.05 million, dropping 12.74% from 2015. They included automobiles, jewelry, compressors and refrigerators. The value of Bahrain exports to Thailand was recorded at $110.55 million, declining by 41.32% from 2015. They included refined oil, metal ores, fertilizers, pesticides, ornaments and aquatic animals. (TNA)