Private sector helps promote Thailand's external ties

BANGKOK, December 4 (TNA) - The Thai private sector, through the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB), has moved to promote Thailand's external ties and cooperation with neighboring and allied countries. Kalin Sarasin, Chairman of the Board of Trade of Thailand, told journalists on Tuesday, after the latest JSCCIB meeting, that as Thailand will alternately play the role of the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2019, JSCCIB has resolved to assign the ASEAN Business Advisory Council in Thailand (ASEAN-BAC Thailand) to organize private activities to nurture regional ties and cooperation. Kalin said the planned activities include ASEAN-BAC meetings and regional seminars, as well as the ASEAN Business Awards and the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit (ABIS), which will be organized in parallel with the ASEAN Summit and related forums 2019. Besides, JSCCIB has also promoted Thailand's trade, investment, tourism and human resource development with Germany, including its cooperation with the German MESSE to promote and develop Thailand as a regional hub of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and with the Fraunhofer IPK to establish a research and development center at the Thai government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi), while also inviting German insurance companies to open their regional offices in Thailand and German nationals to visit the Thai Kingdom. The JSCCIB comprises of the Board of Trade of Thailand (BTT), the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and the Thai Bankers' Association (TBA). (TNA)