German President Frank-Walter-Steinmeier official visit: German investors are urged to invest more in Thailand.

Chatrudee Theparat
Foreign investment

German President Frank-Walter-Steinmeier official visit: German investors are urged to invest more in Thailand.

The government urged German investors to invest in Thailand in the five sectors, which include clean energy, EVs, digital, electronics, and sustainability to meet carbon neutrality.

German President Frank-Walter-Steinmeier headed 12 German companies from the five sectors to visit Thailand between January 24 and 26. They include businesses from trade exhibitions, electronics and automotive, circular and environment, service, digital and education, construction materials, construction and infrastructure. He also met Prime Minister Sreetha Thavisin at the Government House.

Thai government urged German investors to invest in the five sectors including clean energy, EVs, digital, electronics, and sustainability to meet carbon neutrality.

A bilateral meeting, held on January 25 between the two leaders, together with relevant ministers, where cooperation in the areas of mutual interest were discussed.

The meeting agreed to focus on sustainability to cope with global warming issue and a target of zero gas emission. For Germany, it is ready to support renewable technology in order to encourage the Thai government to increase a proportion of renewable energy to generate electricity to meet 50% by 2040.

“Germany has confidence with Thailand. It is not only about investment but also about our good alliance, thanks to a close and long relationship since 1862. For Germany, we are ready to open more opportunity for intra-investment,” Mr Steinmeier said.

Also, Germany agreed to expand investment in EVs in order to support Thailand to become the hub of EVs manufacturer in the region and support the conventional farm sector.

Two countries agreed to tighten their relationship to become strategic partners.

Mr Sreetha said the Thai government is ready to negotiate on Free Trade Area (FTA) which will give benefits to the private sector of the two nations. And his visit to German is scheduled in March this year.

“I am confident we will be able to significantly expand our cooperation in several dimensions, in a direction that is beneficial to both sides,” Mr Sreetha said.

The German president and his delegation are scheduled to observe the operation of Thailand’s potential industries such as an automobile and EVs manufacturing plant, hydro floating solar hybrid power plant, and inclusive sustainable rice landscape project. He will also visit famous tourist attractions such as Pha Taem National Park and Museum of Contemporary Art Bangkok.

It is Steinmeier’s first official visit to Thailand since taking office in 2022 The last German Presidential visit to Thailand was in 2002 by President Johannes R