During 17 – 20 September 2019, Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata led the UK’s delegation of All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Thailand, consisting of senior members of Westminster from the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and co-led by Mr. Roger Godsiff MP, the Chair of APPG on Thailand, paying their second visit to Thailand. This visit was organised as part of the Royal Thai Embassy’s initiative in creating greater “visibility and awareness” of Thailand’s potentials for the UK’s legislative members in order to keep them updated of Thailand’s latest developments, and to generate ideas of future cooperation.

On 18 September 2019, the APPG delegation was welcomed by H.E. Dr. Uttama Saowanayana, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Thai Prime Minister at the new House of Parliament that recently opened in May 2019. On this occasion, Minister Uttama provided an update on Thailand’s strong economic performance during the past five years, such as the positive growth rates of 5% in 2018 and 2.5% after the second quarter of 2019, which were maintained by the continuation of high-level national foreign exchange reserves of more than 200 million USD (ranking 12th in the world according to the IMF), less than 40% public debt ratio of the GDP and only 1% of unemployment rate, amid the stagnating global economy and looming trade tension between the US and China. The APPG delegation took note the current Thailand’s National Development Plan and the government priorities that focus on lifting the national competitiveness through Thailand 4.0 Strategy, bridging the domestic economic gap, improving the livelihood of the Thai people, and its readiness to work with external partners, particularly the UK, in promoting mutual interests and benefits on the issues of security, trade and investments, education and innovation in services industries (i.e. FinTech). Both sides also recognised the similarity and complementarity of one another and shared their insights on how both countries can play part in making the already-excellent relationships even more fruitful in both bilateral and regional terms.

The APPG delegation had subsequently met with various representatives from the government and business sectors, namely H.E. Mr. Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly, H.E. Mr. Kitti Wasinondh, Senator and the President of the Thailand – United Kingdom Parliamentarians Friendship Group, H.E. Mrs. Pornpimol Kanchanalak, Advisors to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, President and CEO of Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, on the capacity of the Co-chair of the Thailand – UK Business Leadership Council (TUBLC), to discuss extensively on the recent political and economic situations of respective countries and regions and also to forge a closer relationship between the two legislatures of both sides. The APPG also attended the business gathering organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (BCCT) and in cooperation with the Foreign Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. This event provided a good opportunity for the APPG to learn the importance of a business-to-business platform for experience sharing and networking between the UK and Thai business communities, which could in turn help reinforcing the overall bilateral relations between the two countries.

On 19 September 2019, Ambassador Pisanu organised a study visit to the EEC site for the APPG delegation. The APPG paid a visit to the Laem Chabang deep-sea port and witnessed the progresses made on the overall EEC logistical infrastructure, such as the third phase expansion of Laem Chabang to become a leading global port, the motorway and high-speed railway connecting the EEC to all three international airports, and the recent development of U-Tapao Airport to become an aeronautics hub of ASEAN region. In addition, the APPG also paid a visit to leading UK companies in Thailand, such as Senior Aerospace (Thailand) Ltd., and Triumph Motorcycle (Thailand) Ltd., where the APPG learned their success stories with more than 10 years of experience and growing confidence over the high quality of Thai human resources as well as the overall potentials of Thailand as a distribution center for ASEAN and global markets.

This visit to Thailand by the APPG was concluded successfully and achieved productive results in terms of providing the comprehensive opportunity to exchange views directly with high-level representatives from the government and business sectors, both Thai and UK businesses, and to observe the progress in the EEC area with first-hand experience as well as from the active participation in various functions with private sectors. The APPG, with updated information of Thailand’s developments, would now be in a position to further encourage greater cooperation between the UK and Thailand on mutual benefits particularly at the post-Brexit time which will coincide with the 165th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the United Kingdom in 2020. Both countries will together open a “new chapter” of friendship amidst changing global ecosystem.