Sri Lanka envoy meets Minister of Industry Suriya Jungrungreangkit of Thailand

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UNESCAP, C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne called on Minister of Industry of Thailand, Suriya Jungrungreangkit on 07.12.2021, at the Ministry.

After warmly welcoming the Ambassador, Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that Investment Policies of both Sri Lanka and Thailand are similar and Thailand looks forward to increase the trade value between two countries.

Exchanging expertise in the fields of food processing, gems & jewelry, fashion designing and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were identified by the Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit as areas for future cooperation and called for restarting the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Thailand.

While conveying warm greetings from President, Prime Minister and Minister of Industry of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne highlighted that National Security, Economic Development and Foreign Relations are the three main pillars of the National Policy of the current Government and with an aim to strengthening relations with Asian countries, the State Ministry of Regional Cooperation has been established under the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka.

Endorsing the remarks made by the Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the Ambassador stated that Sri Lanka is very much keen to increase the trade volume, which very minimal at present and also to accelerate cooperation in infra-structure, gem & jewellery, agro industry, fisheries, tourism, SMEs, financial cooperation, packaging, IT; the ten areas identified under the Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement signed with Thailand.

One Tambon One Product (OTOP) programme in Thailand, which implemented as One Village One Product (OVOP) in Sri Lanka based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Business-to-Business (B2B) partnerships for joint ventures, investment are among the other areas discussed.
Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit also directed the Federation of Thai Industries and his senior officials for the avenues for future cooperation in ilmenite, graphite, electronics, pharmaceuticals, vehicles and spare parts and tea industries in Sri Lanka at the request of the Ambassador.

Ambassador Chaminda Colonne also extended an invitation to Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to visit Sri Lanka in a future date.

Director General Nattapol Rangsitpol of the Department of Industrial Promotion, Director Pratana Bunyarit, Deputy Director General Siripen Kiatfuengfoo of the Office of Industrial Economics of the Ministry of Industry and First Secretary Saritha Ranatunga from the Mission in Bangkok joined the discussion.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand

09.12.2021