Govt to use Pakistan as gateway to central Asia

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Commerce is to use Pakistan as a gateway for Thai products into central Asia, Deputy Commerce Minister Suriya Lapwisuthisin announced today.

Mr. Suriya, who visited Pakistan earlier this week and held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, said that the two countries would seek to boost mutual trade and investment ties.

Noting that Thai exports to Pakistan remain well below market potential, he said that the Thai trade representatives would be instructed to launch a pro-active promotional campaign, with trade exhibitions and export rallies in major Pakistani cities.

Pakistan, seen as a gateway to Afghanistan and central Asia, is regarded as an important new investment destination for Thai companies.

Thai businesspeople have expressed an interest in jointly investing in several Pakistani sectors, including food processing, fisheries, gemstones, machinery, chemicals, cosmetics and the spa industry.

Mr. Suriya said that the Ministry of Commerce was considering the establishment of a Thai-Pakistani chamber of commerce to facilitate trade and investment, and was drawing up plans for business matchmaking between the Thai and Pakistani business communities in the near future.

--TNA 2005-06-25

Now the Thais really need to be careful how the Muslims in the south are treated. These other Muslim countries will start kidnapping Thai business men working in their countries.