During 10-12 December 2014, H.E. Mr. Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil, together with Mr. Khamhaeng Klasukhon, Director of Thai Trade Center in Sao Paulo and the Embassy secretary visited Goiania, Goiás with an aim to strengthen and promote trade, investment and tourism opportunities between Thailand and Goiás. He led the delegation to organize “Thailand Trade and Investment Roadshow” and pay a courtesy call on Mr. José Eliton de Figuerêde Junior, Deputy Governor of the State of Goiás as well as visited the Dry Port in Anápolis. 

 

            On 11 December 2014, the Thai Ambassador and his party co-organized the Trade and Investment Seminar with the Commercial Association of Industries and Services of the State of Goiás (ACIEG). The said event was well attended with more than 50 participants from various business sectors. The Ambassador presented potential ways and means to increase bilateral trade and investment between Thailand and Brazil. He also mentioned about the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) with more than 600 million people by the end of 2015. Brazil and Thailand can be each other’s market and hub in South America, Asia and Southeast Asia. Moreover, an overview about how to invest and do business in Thailand was presented. Lastly, Director of Thai Trade Center highlighted opportunities and potential of Thai champion products possibly making inroads into the Brazilian market and invited Goiás businessmen and Brazilian companies to attend various international trade fairs in Thailand. During the question and answer session, the participants asked further information on trade and investment opportunities as well as business cooperation between the private sectors of Brazil and Thailand, such as in the areas of beer, cosmetics and auto-parts. 

 

            Later on, the Ambassador and his delegation met with Mr. José Eliton de Figuerêde Junior, Deputy Governor of the State of Goiás as well as Mr. William O’ Dwyer, the Secretary of State of Industry and Trade of Goiás. They exchanged views on how to strengthen the bilateral relations and increase collaboration in all dimensions, be they politics, economics, culture, tourism and people-to-people contact. The Thai Ambassador mentioned five potential areas that Thailand and the State of Goiás can further cooperate, namely (1) Auto-parts (2) Sugarcane, ethanol and beer products (3) Cosmetics (4) Furniture and housing decorative items and (5) Hotel and tourism management.   

On 12 December 2014, the Thai Ambassador led his party to visit the Dry Port in Anápolis to see the potential of the inland port located in the central and Midwest regions of Brazil.  He also took the opportunity to discuss how to increase cooperation in importing Thai products into Brazil through this dry port.