Pretoria - Building relationships and tapping into new markets are key to exploring investment opportunities in Thailand, as well as the rest of the South-East Asian region, says South African Ambassador to Thailand, Robina Marks.
Marks was speaking at the South Africa-Thailand Trade and Investment opportunities seminar hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.
This as a South African business delegation arrived in Thailand for the Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM), where they will profile the country as an investment destination of choice.
Monday’s seminar, which was attended by over a hundred businesspeople, focused on how trade and investment opportunities that exist in both countries could be explored by businesspeople from South Africa and Thailand.
The building of relationships, said Marks, can assist South African businesses in getting a clear view on how their products and services would be received in the South-East Asia markets.
“The presence of local chambers in this investment seminar indicates a willingness from the Thai to support such initiatives and also encourages South African exporters in believing trade and investment opportunities are available in the country,” she said.
South Africa was looking at doubling the trade that is currently skewed in favour of Thailand by 2015.
“South Africa has been a net importer from Thailand for the past decade, and this would not balance the ratio unless we emphasise beneficiation on all products that we export as South Africa,” added Marks.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment, Chokedee Kaewsang, said investment and export promotion had been placed on top of the Thailand government agenda.
Kaewsang said the Thai government was now looking at South Africa and the rest of Africa for trade opportunities that have growth potential.
“Thai investment policy now includes sectors such as agro-processing, which the country is looking at exports partners in order to service Thailand citizens better,” Kaewsang added.
The delegation will on Tuesday visit different sites covering the various sectors in and around Bangkok that the South African delegation represents. These include agro-processing, jewellery and the automotive sector.
The objective of the OSIM, according to the department, is to create market access for South African value-added products, and services to enter Asian markets- especially for agro-processing, jewellery and automotive components sectors. – SAnews.gov.za
