On May 23, 2014, H.E. Dr. Itti Ditbanjiong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Russian Federation had a working lunch with Mr. Dhanin Chearavanont, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Charoen Pokphand Group Company Limited (also known as CP group). The other high ranking executives of the Group together with Mr. Boonyarit Vichienpuntu, Counselor (economic affairs) were also at the meeting.

     While having congratulated the company for its successful business performance from its investment and continued market expansion in Russia, the Thai Ambassador pushed forwards his initiative for any Thai enterprises with high business potentials, the CP group in particular, to start up the supermarket business that is specialized on Thai products in Russia. 

     According to him, such business strategy would lead to the decrease on the constraint of the importation, as well as help increase the channels of market distribution for Thai products in Russia. Mr. Chearavanont agreed to take the proposed business approach into account. He also added that it would be even more economically feasible in case that the CP group would rather take over  any supermarket chain with good business performance that has already been popular among the Russian consumers.         

     The Chairman of the CP group also shared his view with the Thai Ambassador that in responding to the Russian new policy of reducing their dependence on traditional supplies and looking for new sources from other countries, it is the right timing for Thailand to seriously target on the food market of Russia. The CP group is currently planning to invest in taking over chicken farms with high productivity in Russia besides their continued investment on the animal feeds and pig farmings.

     The meeting took place during the period of the international economic conference of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2014 from May 22 - 24,   2014. The Thai Ambassador and the Chairman of the CP group are among the political leaders and world leading businessmen who were invited by the Russian government to participate in this annual event.