Thai authorities are visiting Russia, Belarus to promote trade

BANGKOK, Feb 22 (TNA) -- Thai authorities and key businesspeople are visiting Russia and Belarus from Feb 22 to 27 to promote Thai export. Malee Choklumlerd, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion, said the delegation of Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon led representatives of the department and about 80 Thai companies to the two countries. Representatives from the private sector include those from the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Bankers’ Association, Charoen Pokphand Group, PTT Group, Loxley Group and the Thai Gem & Jewelry Traders Association. In Russia the delegation will discuss trade in food, medical equipment, rubber, fashion products, auto parts and construction materials. The value of Thai-Russia trade amounted to only US$2,355 million last year consisting of Thai export worth US$713 million and import worth US$1,642 million. When Russia recovers from its economic problems, the Thai government expects the bilateral trade value to rise to US$10 billion this year, Ms Malee said. The Thai delegation will meet Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov. Both sides will discuss free trade with the Eurasian Economic Union which Thailand plans to use as a gateway to reach markets in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. In Belarus, the Thai delegation will meet a Belarusian deputy prime minister supervising economic affairs and the chair of Bel Shina, the biggest tire manufacturer in Belarus, to promote Thai rubber. The Commerce Ministry invited representatives of the company to Thailand on Feb 29 to discuss rubber purchase and the company informed that it planned to buy rubber worth US$5.24 million, Ms Malee said. (TNA)