PM's foreign visit/economic cooperation mission

Editorial staff

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to strengthen economic cooperation between Thailand and France and Italy during his visit to the two countries.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri disclosed that the prime minister will leave from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan province in the night (23.30 Hrs) of May 15 to arrive in Paris, France in the morning of May 16, 2024.

He is scheduled to visit the Republic of France during May 15 - 16, 2024, pay an official visit to the Republic of Italy and attend parallel activities on May 17 - 21, 2024, and attend the 29th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia on May 22 - 24, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan.

Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri

She said he will lead a group of Thai business executives to attend the Thailand - France Business Forum in France. The event is organized following the PM’s official visit to France in March. It is aimed to promote mutual trade, and attract more investment from the French private sector.

He is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron to follow up on outcomes of their previous meeting, particularly on trade and investment, defense industry, and soft power, and to push forward elevation of Thailand - France to strategic partnership according to the Roadmap for Thai-French Relations (2022 – 2024).

He will later pay an official visit to Italy, and have a bilateral discussion with H.E. Mrs Giorgia Meloni, president of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic to promote relations between Thailand and Italy. The year 2024 marks the 156th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Two countries will strengthen cooperation in the areas of mutual interest such as renewable energy; sports tourism; medical science and pharmaceuticals; and defense cooperation.

He will also push forward such important issues as Schengen visa waiver for Thai ordinary passport holders, finalization of Thailand – EU FTA negotiation by 2025, and Italy’s future acceptance of Thai workers who have returned from Israel.

He is also due to meet with Attilio Fontana, the President of Lombardy Region, which is the most important region of Italy's economy.

He will also meet with Italy’s global corporations, including president of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion (Mr Carlo Capasa), and will invite them to consider investment in Thailand, especially in the fields of fashion and soft power, agriculture and food, automobiles, energy, finance and Sustainability Linked Bonds, and the Landbridge project.

He will later fly to Japan to attend and deliver a keynote address at the 29th Nikkei Forum Future of Asia, of which the theme is “Asian Leadership in an Uncertain World”.

He will propose Asian cooperation in the following areas: 1) trade and investment connectivity to open up business opportunities; 2) sustainability promotion through green economy and energy; 3) cooperation on digital transition; and 4) multilateral system paradigm shift to support the Asian economy and overcome volatile and challenging world situations.