Thailand seeks to open distribution centre in the Gulf

By Noimot Olayiwola Staff Reporter

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin
Khalifa al-Thani with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The
meeting at the Emiri Diwan was attended by Thai Deputy Premier Korbsak
Sabhavasu, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Deputy Commerce Minister
Wiroon Techapaiboon and Ambassador to Qatar Suvat Chirapant

In
the next six months to one year, Qatar and Thailand will start
implementing a number of projects contained in the agreements and
memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries, visiting
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.
Vejjajiva,
the first Thai premier to visit the state in 30 years of bilateral
relations, said that an invitation had been extended to HH the Emir
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to visit Thailand next year. 
Qatar
and Thailand on Tuesday signed two agreements and two memorandums of
understanding. A memorandum was signed for the setting up of a joint
higher committee for international co-operation. Another MoU was signed
between Qatar’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) and the Thai
Trade Council.
An agreement was singed between Qatar News Agency and
Thai Telecommunications Corporation and another between Qatar Petroleum
International and the Thai Siam Cement Group.
Addressing a press
conference yesterday after attending a business dinner hosted  by the
QCCI, the prime minister highlighted areas of co-operation between the
two countries, namely manufacturing, food security, Halal and
agro-industry, tourism and medical tourism, energy, construction,
finance and banking as well as education.
“We have identified so many areas (of co-operation)where we can make good use of our expertise,” Vejjajiva said.
He said that Thailand had the facilities and competitiveness to be a premier base for manufacturing.
Vejjajiva
said food security was an issue of great concern not only to Qatar and
other GCC countries but to the entire world, saying that Thailand,
being the world’s number one rice exporter, was ready to work with all
partners on this.
Apart from importing rice and other food items
into Qatar, Vejjajiya said Thailand was keen to open a distribution
centre in the GCC region to further improve supply chain and ensure
effective distribution.
“Hassad Qatar and my trade representatives
had talks today and they have clear idea of how to move ahead in terms
of achieving our aim of establishing a distribution centre in the
region.”
He also said that the Siam Cement Group officials and
their Qatari counterparts had met earlier in the day, describing their
meeting as “a highly significant partnership”.
Prime Minister Vejjaiva left Doha yesterday evening.