TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Dear colleagues and friends, Thailand is our oldest partner in Southeast Asia and one of Russia's biggest trading partners among ASEAN countries. During the last year's visits to Thailand of H.E. Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Russia, and H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, business cooperation, of course, was high on the top of their agendas at their meetings with the Thai leadership. Bilateral trade turnover has been growing for many years. However, due to turbulences in global economy it shrunk in 2019 and keeps decreasing in 2020. In view of the above, the task that we are facing is to diversify the structure of exports and imports, and, at the same time, to work further on widening existing business links.

Promising areas are oil and fuel, natural gas, especially LNG, as well as the electric power. Possible hi-tech cooperation comprises bio- and space technologies, peaceful nuclear technology. IT-sector and digital economy, including cyber security and e-government, have considerable potential for bilateral work.

Russia is studying opportunities opening up at the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Russian companies are eager to explore such areas for investments in EEC as transport, aerospace logistics, energy, pharmaceutical and medical equipment production, advanced materials, financing, robotics. There are opportunities in increasing the trade of food and agricultural products. Thailand's investments in the agro-industrial complex of Russia are most active. "CP Foods" remains the largest Thai investor in the Russian economy. At the same time, Thai capitals keep exploring new niches of the Russian economy. The structure of Thai investments in our country gradually diversifies from the sphere of services and acquires a high-tech character. It is a promising trend. Concluding my message, I would like to wish all members of the Thai-Russian Chamber of Commerce good health and every success in your business activities for the benefit of the Russian-Thai cooperation.

Promising areas are oil and fuel, natural gas, especially LNG, as well as the electric power. Possible hi-tech cooperation comprises bio- and space technologies, peaceful nuclear technology. IT-sector and digital economy, including cyber security and e-government, have considerable potential for bilateral work.

Russia is studying opportunities opening up at the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Russian companies are eager to explore such areas for investments in EEC as transport, aerospace logistics, energy, pharmaceutical and medical equipment production, advanced materials, financing, robotics. There are opportunities in increasing the trade of food and agricultural products. Thailand's investments in the agro-industrial complex of Russia are most active. "CP Foods" remains the largest Thai investor in the Russian economy. At the same time, Thai capitals keep exploring new niches of the Russian economy. The structure of Thai investments in our country gradually diversifies from the sphere of services and acquires a high-tech character. It is a promising trend. Concluding my message, I would like to wish all members of the Thai-Russian Chamber of Commerce good health and every success in your business activities for the benefit of the Russian-Thai cooperation.