On 30 June 2021 Ms. Sweeya Santipitaks, Consul-General, gave an inaugural speech at CII virtual event “Facilitating Exports from the East: Role of Export Infrastructure, Finance and Marketing” attended by over 100 representatives from public and private sectors. The event was organized by Confederation of Indian Industry Eastern Region or CII ER, comprising of the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and 8 states in the Northeastern region of India. In the speech on “Facilitating Trade Opportunities: Doing Business with Thailand”, Ms. Santipitaks reiterated opportunities that can be realized from Thailand’s 2021 chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Port Authority of Thailand and Kolkata Port Trust during the 1^st BIMSTEC Port Conclave in November 2019 at Visakhapatnam.

Ms. Santipitaks also shared Thailand’s experience in overcoming export challenges during the time of Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting food products as one of Thailand’s major exports. The Royal Thai Government had improved digital infrastructure to encourage better engagement with stakeholders. Online platforms not only provided information and trainings to upskill and reskill exporters but also allowed partners to conduct business online via virtual trade fairs and online business matching. On the marketing front, Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion launched “Thailand Delivers with Safety” campaign to reassure global consumers that the strict safety measures were imposed throughout its food supply chain.

The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata, the Thai Trade Office in New Delhi, and Board of Investment of Thailand in Mumbai stand ready to help Indian businesses in the Eastern region explore opportunities in imports, exports, and investment with Thai partners.