On 2 March 2018, H.E. Mr. Hatem Chahreddine Ferjani, Secretary of State for Economic Diplomacy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, during his visit to Thailand as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 1 – 2 March 2018.

            The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand welcomed the Tunesian delegation and expressed Thailand’s appreciation of the assistance rendered by the Tunesian Government in the evacuation of Thai nationals and workers during Libya’s crises in 2011 and 2014.
He affirmed Thailand’s readiness to expand cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, and tourism with Tunisia, and encouraged Tunisia’s private sector to explore investment opportunities in Thailand with particular emphasis on the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Likewise, he encouraged the Thai private sector to explore investment opportunities in Tunisia, especially in the agro-food and tourism sectors.

            Recognising the growing economic potentials of Asian countries, the Secretary of State of Tunisia conveyed that the purpose of his visit was to further economic collaboration with Thailand, one of Tunisia’s target countries in the region. He also suggested that Thailand use Tunisia as a gateway to African markets as well as European markets, since the country is a partner in the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement.

            During the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of bilateral cooperative mechanisms. They noted the Bilateral Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia and the Joint Trade Committee, the 3^rd of which Thailand is scheduled to host. Both sides further anticipated the concluding of the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Handicrafts in the near future. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand also expressed interest in promoting educational cooperation and student exchange programmes with Tunisia.

            Before the meeting, the Secretary of State of Tunisia, accompanied by a Tunisian business delegation, met with executives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce and attended the Business Networking Activity between the Thai and Tunisian private sector, organised by the Thai Chamber of Commerce. He also met with executives from the Board of Investment of Thailand and the Ministry of Commerce later that afternoon.