British minister visits Thailand for trade talks

[webfact]

British minister visits Thailand for trade talks

By The Nation

 

British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox

 

British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox arrived in Thailand on Wednesday to boost trade relations between the two countries.
 

The first United Kingdom trade minister to visit Thailand in 15 years, he is seeking to expand trade ties and is expected to raise the subject of Thailand holding democratic elections.

 

While in Bangkok he will meet leading businesses and Thai government ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, his counterpart Sonthirat Sonthijirawong, the Thai Minister of Commerce, and Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

 

“The UK’s trade with Thailand is growing steadily, but there is still huge untapped demand for British goods and services across the Thai economy, which is growing strongly and has a large middle class,” Fox said in press statement.

 

“The IMF (International Monetary Fund) predicts 90 per cent of global growth in the coming years will come from outside the EU, and this government is putting the UK in a position to benefit, particularly by boosting export finance and showcasing British companies to the Asian market,” he said.

 

Thailand is the second largest economy in Southeast Asia and bilateral trade with the UK increased by 2.8 per cent to £5.6 billion (Bt246 billion) in 2015-2016. Currently, the majority of UK exports are in machinery, vehicles and mechanical appliances.

 

Thailand is implementing its “Thailand 4.0 industrial strategy”, with a particular emphasis on moving towards a digital economy, from rolling out high-speed Internet access for all villages to setting up a big data analytics centre.

 

Fox will showcase how the UK’s world-class digital sector can the support this strategy. This follows a recent visit by Thai digital companies to the UK.

 

Fox will also be promoting the capability of UK companies in areas such as financial services, and transportation, said the statement.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30342433

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-04

[jonstarjon]

####$$ disgusting!! The humiliation of it! This UK government will do anything to prostitute itself for "trade". I am sooooo not proud to be British at the moment! My god Tories know no limits in their depravity.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, jonstarjon said:

####$$ disgusting!! The humiliation of it! This UK government will do anything to prostitute itself for "trade". I am sooooo not proud to be British at the moment! My god Tories know no limits in their depravity.

 

 

1

 

What do you think all the Embassies are for? Not just in Thailand, but World Wide. What do you think all the Embassies of other countries are for?....  

 

It's all about business, developing relationships, making trade deals.

Part of the mission involves security. A small, but to the layman, more visible part is for consular services.

 

There is also the British Chamber of Commerce. Is this network also disgusting?

 

So, what, may I ask, is so disgusting about a British Minister doing his job to bolster trade with foreign nations?

 

What embarrasses you of your nationality and what is so depraved and disgusting about British promotion of the UK’s world-class digital sector or promoting UK's financial services, automotive industry, transport etc.... ???

 

 

Edited April 4, 2018 by richard_smith237

[Ossy]

Useless Welsh groveler. Whatever his position, Fox always seems to be crying out for acknowledgement . . . not that he's proved himself to be a notable statesman, but just that he exists. But, wait a minute, lest I be unfairly critical, what is this next bit about?  Aside from the hefty trade issues, he is also expected to raise the subject of Thailand holding democratic elections.

 

Mama-mia, we can be sure what Somkid and Pichet will say, "You'll need to speak to our silky soap star for that, Liam . . . hold on a sec; he might still be in the nail parlour, next door . . . Wednesday is his nails and nasal hair day . . . or it was, last week. We never know, with this guy."

Edited April 4, 2018 by Ossy
clarity

[grumbleweed]

To those who say Brexit will sink the UK

Don't underestimate them in any fight for survival. This is only the beginning, it's gonna get a lot dirtier

and don't be surprised to see Juncker and his cronies choking on all those threats they've been making

The vote to leave was partly  a "bring it on" response to the threats of what would happen if they left

[ukrules]

This is the job of an international trade secretary, nothing new here. Well perhaps there is something new, while in Europe it was not possible to do bilateral deals on a country by country basis - that was all up to Europe.

 

Any deals they 'pencil in' here will come into play in the future after the EU exit, they're preparing in advance and have plenty of time to make all the deals they want without the incumbrance of the EU which effectively makes it almost impossible to do any new trade deals.

 

Edited April 4, 2018 by ukrules

[BuaBS]

The Brits finally discover that there are more countries to trade with than EU.

[anon789561]

4 hours ago, jonstarjon said:

####$$ disgusting!! The humiliation of it! This UK government will do anything to prostitute itself for "trade". I am sooooo not proud to be British at the moment! My god Tories know no limits in their depravity.

 

 

it's his job. don't they have enough in government doing naff all. thailand is a trading partner so drum up business. isn't the largest retailer in thailand british?

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox arrived in Thailand on Wednesday to boost trade relations between the two countries.

You mean after the visit to UK by Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee in July 2016 to discuss a bilateral free-trade agreement to relieve the impact from Britain’s vote to exit the European Union? https://ethailand.com/business-news/thailand-and-uk-see-a-new-trade-deal/3091/

 

Given Australia's recent experience with the Prayut government over Thailand's dispute (Akara Gold Mine) with its free trade agreement with Australia, I hope the UK holds back any formal agreement until a Thai government that wields absolute power like a Power Ranger is out of office.

[Jeremia Juxtaposed]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

The first United Kingdom trade minister to visit Thailand in 15 years,

Isn't it about 15 years since the UK Embassy started cutting back, outsourcing and closing down facilities .....Is he going to hold his meetings in Starbucks..???

[anon789561]

1 hour ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

Isn't it about 15 years since the UK Embassy started cutting back, outsourcing and closing down facilities .....Is he going to hold his meetings in Starbucks..???

pretty sure the embassy is still where it is for now and they already have offices being prepared for their move

[Kinnock]

1 hour ago, Jeremia Juxtaposed said:

Isn't it about 15 years since the UK Embassy started cutting back, outsourcing and closing down facilities .....Is he going to hold his meetings in Starbucks..???

I think they should hold their meetings in Central Embassy - at least the location has historical significance, and there's seating and ac, so they don't even need to buy a coffee.

 

Then they can get the Minster a tuk-tuk back to the airport.

[jonstarjon]

On 4/4/2018 at 7:29 AM, jonstarjon said:

####$$ disgusting!! The humiliation of it! This UK government will do anything to prostitute itself for "trade". I am sooooo not proud to be British at the moment! My god Tories know no limits in their depravity.

 

 

Any trade with a country that oppresses its people (such as military control removal of rights to be democratic sponsoring and protecting terrorists) should be chastised not encouraged by trade talks!! Its bad enough we take blood money from the Saudis how much further do we need to slip down the moral ladder??