On 3 August 2015, H.E. Mr. Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil together with his wife, Mrs. Duangjai Charnbhumidol, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Fernando Pimentel, Governor of the State of Minas Gerais at Palácio da Liberdade, the Governor’s Office.

 

            During the call, the Ambassador explained the objectives of his visit, namely to look for the possibility of future trade, investment, tourism cooperation between Thailand and Minas Gerias, and the promotion of trade on well-known products from Minas Gerais such as coffee and precious and semi-precious stones. The Governor, who was a former Minister of Development, Industry and External Trade of Brazil, acknowledged the importance of Thailand and expressed his intention to promote cooperation between Thailand and the State in several areas. 

 

            Ambassador of Thailand also invited the Governor to lead a mission of businesspersons to Thailand to promote trade and investment between Thailand and Minas Gerais. Mr. Ambassador also informed the Governor that, by the end of 2015, ASEAN would become an ASEAN Economic Community which would enhance free flows of goods, investment, services and skilled labour in the region and with more than 620 million people it could be a potential market for Brazilian trade and investment. Thailand's strategic geographical location at the center of Southeast Asia can be used as the logistics hub for Brazil.

 

            On 4 August 2015, H.E. Mr. Aldalclever Lopes, President of the State Assembly of Minas Gerais invited Mr. Ambassador and his wife for a luncheon with the leaders of the main political parties of the Assembly. During the luncheon, Mr. Ambassador expressed his wishes to promote cooperation between Thailand and Minas Gerais in several areas and invited the President and other members of the Assembly to visit Thailand together with the Governor of Minas Gerais.

 

            In 2014, the total bilateral trade value between Thailand and Minas Gerais was around 128 million USD. Thailand imported 92 million USD from Minas Gerais and 50% of the import was iron ore. Thailand’s main export product to Minas Gerais was electronic machinery (10% of the total export).