Thailand Invites Switzerland to Invest in the EEC and Vaccine Production (4/8/2021)

Thailand invited Switzerlands private sector to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), especially in the vaccine production industry. It thanked the Swiss government for the 102 units of ventilators and 1.1 million pieces of Rapid Antigen Test kits donated to the Thai government during the official visit to Thailand by Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Vice President and Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, on 1-3 August 2021.

The visit was part of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Swiss Confederation.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai had a bilateral meeting with the Vice President and Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation. Both sides discussed trade and investment promotion to boost the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as tourism, climate change, and sustainable development. They agreed to foster tangible collaborative projects in the context of Bio-Circular-Green Economy, especially in Thailands EEC.

On public diplomacy, both sides discussed people-to-people exchange. The Swiss community in Thailand has more than 15,000 Swiss nationals, being one of the biggest Swiss communities in Asia. Likewise, the Thai community in Switzerland has more than 36,000 Thai nationals, also being one of the biggest Thai communities in Europe.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides agreed to set up Consular Consultations and signed the Memorandum of Understanding to establish this mechanism during this visit. The mechanism is the first of its kind for Thailand.

During this official visit, the Vice President and Head of Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and had bilateral meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa.

2/10/2021 Page 1 กรมประชาสัมพันธ์ The Thai-Swiss relations today has grown from strength to strength. This official visit, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, was the first official visit by a Foreign Minister from Europe in the year 2021. This fact reflects the confidence that Switzerland has in Thailand, as well as the strong multi-dimensional bonds at all levels between the two countries.

2/10/2021 Page 2 กรมประชาสัมพันธ์