Bangkok: Two leading New Zealand companies, Skyline Enterprises and TandG Global, have announced plans to invest in Thailand, highlighting the country's strategic location and potential for growth. The Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Anutin Charnvirakul, disclosed this development following meetings with the companies' executives, facilitated by the Board of Investment (BOI).
According to Thai News Agency, the discussions aimed to enhance business ties and promote investment between New Zealand and Thailand. The Prime Minister emphasized Thailand's attractiveness as a large market and an advantageous base for production and investment, serving as a gateway to the ASEAN region and beyond. The goal is to transform the strong diplomatic relations between the two nations into economic opportunities that benefit both their citizens and businesses.
During the meeting with Skyline Enterprises, a prominent tourism and attractions company, the Prime Minister encouraged the expansion of their investment into Thailand. He highlighted Thailand's diverse tourist offerings and its capacity to develop new tourist destinations and activities, particularly for the family tourism sector, which aligns with Skyline's expertise. The executives from Skyline showed interest in Thailand's market potential and tourist attractions, prompting the Prime Minister to direct the BOI to collaborate with the company on feasibility studies and investment development.
In discussions with TandG Global, a major player in agriculture and fruit export, the focus was on using Thailand as a distribution hub to support market expansion into ASEAN countries and India. The Prime Minister proposed leveraging Thailand's efficient logistics systems and Free Trade Agreements to facilitate access to international markets. He also invited TandG Global to collaborate in agriculture, combining both countries' strengths to add value and create new products.
The Prime Minister suggested using TandG Global's global market network to promote Thai fruits, particularly in Europe, while New Zealand could benefit from Thailand's strategic location to access ASEAN and Indian markets. This collaboration is expected to strengthen economic activity, boost opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, and enhance Thailand's position as a regional hub.
The Prime Minister revealed that he had one-on-one meetings with the companies and noted their existing partnerships in Thailand. Both companies have identified Thailand as a favorable distribution channel, with Skyline focusing on entertainment and TandG Global on fruit export, particularly apples. They aim to use Thailand's strategic position to distribute products across ASEAN, India, and the Middle East.
The Prime Minister also expressed interest in introducing apple genetic technologies to Thai farmers to enhance yields, with plans to explore this in the second phase of their collaboration. The initial phase will focus on establishing Thailand as a distribution base.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of Thailand's readiness and potential in agriculture, encouraging collaboration on research and development to benefit both New Zealand and Thai farmers. The confidence shown by Skyline and TandG Global in investing in Thailand underscores the country's strategic importance as a distribution base and an investment hub. The BOI will continue to engage with both companies to advance these investment plans into tangible projects and collaborations.