Ambassador Virachai at U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Welcome Roundtable Luncheon

On May 17, 2018, Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Virachai Plasai, was warmly welcomed and greeted by Mr. James W. Fatheree, the Chamber’s Vice President for Asia and his team together with executives and representatives from 18 leading U.S. companies at a Roundtable Luncheon hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Ambassador Virachai appreciated the warm welcome and laid out to the audience his plan to expand two-way trade and investment relations built upon the 1966 Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, which for Thailand is a unique instrument according to U.S. persons full national treatment in principle. He pointed to the new opportunities available to U.S. investors in the country through Thailand 4.0 policy scheme and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) with the legal framework of a new special economic zone, effective since May 15.

Attending executives and representatives from 18 leading U.S. companies comprised key sectors including agriculture, energy, finance, information and communication technology, logistics, defense, and health care. Ambassador Virachai took up questions and exchanged views with the private sector on a wide range of issues from latest reform initiatives under the current Thai government, regional security to Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship next year. The questions and comments well reflected U.S. private sector’s continued confidence and interests in the Thai economy and market.