Thai Prime Minister Facilitates Business Matching in Paris Mission

20 May, 2024

Thai Prime Minister Facilitates Business Matching in Paris Mission

Srettha and President Emmanuel Macron convened for bilateral talks on Thursday morning to revisit the progress made since their last meeting in March. The discussions primarily centered around trade and investment, the defense industry, soft power, and ongoing negotiations concerning a free trade agreement for electric vehicles.

Following the talks, the Prime Minister spearheaded the Thai-French Business Forum at L'Apostrophe Business Centre in Paris. Emphasizing the government’s "Ignite Thailand" vision, Srettha outlined Thailand's aspirations to become a global leader in various sectors, including tourism, wellness, agriculture, digital economy, and finance. He highlighted the promising opportunities available for French companies interested in investing in Thailand.

Subsequently, Srettha witnessed the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) between Thai and French agencies, focusing on trade, sustainable aviation fuel, and defense. France extended offerings of military products and services to Thailand, while Thailand proposed collaborative military development programs and training exercises.

Recognizing France's expertise in clean energy production, Srettha expressed interest in learning from their practices and invited French energy agencies to participate in the upcoming Thailand-France Business Forum in September.

Concluding his mission in France, Srettha is scheduled to visit Italy to engage in bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, fostering closer ties between the two nations. Following this, he will travel to Tokyo to participate in the 29th Nikkei Forum "Future of Asia" from May 22-24.