COLOMBO : Addressing a joint press briefing at the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday,Feb 2 , the Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin that Thai International Airlines will resume daily flights between Thailand and Sri Lanka from the end of March to further enhance connectivity between the two countries & pledged collaboration in the tourism, fisheries, agriculture & trade.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe noted during the joint media briefing that Sri Lanka has made significant progress in economic stabilization noting that his principle strategy of economic growth and prosperity is to enhance bilateral trade, particularly with the proven future potential of the East Asian and ASEAN region including Thailand & is ready to engage with external partners to ensure prosperity for all Sri Lankans
President Wickremesinghe also said, there is considerable potential to develop tourism, trade and other areas of economic cooperation between Sri Lanka & Thailand & sees great potential for enhanced investments from Thailand coming into Sri Lanka.
He said the two leaders discussed possible areas for collaboration as well – The Gem & Jewellery Research & Training Institute (GJRTI) of SL & the Gem & Jewellery Institute of Thailand (GIT) solidified their commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Presidential Secretariat a short while ago
A Free Trade Agreement was signed at the Presidential secretariat between Thailand and Sri Lanka aimed at enhancing market opportunities, with negotiations covering various aspects such as Trade in Goods, Investment, Customs Procedure & Intellectual Property Rights
The President lauded the commitment to commercial Durian cultivation, with the Prime Minister offering assistance to modernize agriculture. Tourism also took centre stage, with plans to provide land and historic buildings for development in strategic areas. President Wickremesinghe concluded by urging both nations to seize the opportunities presented and work collaboratively for mutual benefit, the statement mentioned.
Expressing his views at the Business Forum, the Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin highlighted potential collaborations in Sri Lanka’s growing hospitality industry, covering food and beverages, hotel supplies and skills development through cooperation between academies and hospitality institutes. Emphasizing the cultural and religious bonds between the nations, he mentioned Thai Airways International’s resumption of daily flights between Bangkok and Colombo commencing from the 31st of March.
The Prime Minister encouraged more Thai companies to invest in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, manufacturing and energy sectors. He also urged increased tourism, suggesting Thai companies capitalize on Sri Lanka’s infrastructure projects and tourist advantages in markets like India, UAE, and the EU, the PMD said.
In terms of maritime connectivity, he identified Sri Lanka as a crucial partner in Thailand’s ambition to become a logistics hub in Southeast Asia, citing a land bridge project to connect the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand. Additionally, he welcomed Indonesia’s high-crystal ocean project in the coming years.
The Prime Minister assured that Thailand is open for business year-round, inviting collaboration to foster economic growth and move into an exciting future,
