Prime Minister meets U.S. business community

Bilateral business was at the top of the agenda last week as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha met with prominent members of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Thailand, while Thailand’s Ambassador to the U.S. Manasvi Srisodapol engaged with American corporate executives in Washington D.C.

“There are several businessmen from AmCham working in Thailand and making constant contributions to the country,” Prime Minister Prayut said after meeting with members of the chamber by teleconference. He added that the executives expressed support for the government’s vision and approach in moving the country forward.

Chamber Chairman Gregory Wong praised the government for its willingness to listen to suggestions from the U.S. private sector and said that AmCham is ready to work with the Thai government to make Thailand a global economic hub. The chairman also pledged support for the Thai government in hosting APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) next year.

Thailand is the second-largest economy in ASEAN (Southeast Asia) after Indonesia, and the U.S. is one of the Kingdom’s largest export markets. The two countries have had trade relations for nearly 200 years with the first official bilateral treaty signed in 1833.

Prime Minister Prayut said that his discussions with the American business community covered issues related to Thailand’s economic development, challenges and opportunities, and cooperation in times of COVID-19 and the post-Covid period.

Meanwhile in Washington D.C., Ambassador Manasvi Srisodapol engaged in a roundtable discussion with leading U.S. executives organized by the Meridian International Center.

Among the corporations that took part in the discussions were Amgen, Abbott, Boeing, Cargill, Chevron, Citi, Hess Corporation and Pfizer.

He stressed that Thailand is extremely open to investment from American companies, especially with those in advanced industries, willing to partner with the Kingdom in raising its technological capabilities, and that the government is willing to work with companies to meet their needs and incentivize investing in Thailand.

Photo courtesy of: https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/48404