H.E. Mr. Andrej Babis, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, paid an official visit to Thailand at the invitation extended by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, during 15 - 17 January 2019.  It was the first ever visit to Thailand by a sitting Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic was also accompanied by a business delegation comprising of 52 executives from 40 Czech companies.

On 16 January 2019, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic had a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister at the Government House. Both sides discussed extensively on ways to enhance bilateral relations between Thailand and the Czech Republic, and agreed to expand trade, investment and cooperation in areas of education, science and technology, innovation, tourism, and international cooperation.

On trade and investment, the Thai side encouraged the Czech side to consider buying more Thai products, particularly agricultural products, rice, rubber and food.  The Thai side also invited the Czech private sector to invest in Thailand, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) projects, in the areas of defence industry, aviation and aerospace industry, automotive industry, industrial technology and nanotechnology, by using Thailand as a production base for exporting to other Asian markets.  In addition, the Thai side asked the Czech side to cooperate in the development of skills training of the Thai workforce and technology transfer.

On education, research, science and technology, the Thai side proposed enhancing cooperation between Thai and Czech academic institutions.  On tourism, both sides agreed to set up a Sub-Committee on Tourism under the Thailand - Czech Republic Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation as a platform to exchange views, experiences, expertise and best practices on tourism. On trilateral cooperation, the Thai side proposed joint development cooperation projects in third countries, under Thailand’s SEP for SDGs Partnership initiative, using the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy as a means to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic also met with General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence to discuss defence cooperation. 

The Czech business delegation was briefed on Thailand’s investment promotion policy by the Secretary-General of the Board of Investment and on EEC projects by the Deputy Secretary-General of the EEC Office.

On 17 January 2019, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and delegation participated in the Thai - Czech Business Forum organised by Federation of Thai Industries and Czech Confederation of Industry to enhance business networking and matching of Thai - Czech private sectors. The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic delivered a keynote speech expressing readiness to support the Czech private sector in doing business with Thailand, as well as transfer of technology, expertise and innovation.