During 1-2 July 2024, the Embassy, in collaboration with Thai-Malaysia public and private agencies; namely, DITP Malaysia, Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT), National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM), Malaysia-Thailand Business Council (MTBC), organised the “IGNITE IGNITE Thailand in Kuala Lumpur: Enhancing Thailand-Malaysia Cross Border Connectivity Through Public-Private Partnership” in Kuala Lumpur. The activities included an economic forum, business matching, and a visit to Thailand booths at Food and Drinks Malaysia by SIAL.

 

On 1 July 2024, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia and Dr. Mohd Shaharin Bin Umar, Director of Regional Development Division, representing YBHG. Dato’ Nor Azmie Diron, Secretary-General of Ministry of Economy of Malaysia, jointly officiated the event at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel and Convention Centre.

 

In her remarks, the Ambassador addressed the event’s primary objectives, which were for Thai-Malaysian key players in the border area development to be equipped with the latest progress of Thailand-Malaysia cross border connectivity projects and the potential trade and investment opportunities, and to enhance cooperation between the Thai-Malaysian business sectors, in support of the Royal Thai Government’s Proactive Economic Diplomacy policy and IGNITE THAILAND policy, which envisions Thailand as a global hub in the logistics, and agriculture and food industries. The event also would pave a way to the 3rd Thailand-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Meeting, hosted by Malaysia on 4 July 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Director Dr. Mohd Shaharin Bin Umar supported the event and expressed Malaysia’s readiness to work closely with Thailand in advancing cooperation to further enhance both sides’ connectivity based on mutual benefits.

 

The economic forum consisted of 4 panel sessions, including (1) Thailand-Malaysia Cross Border Physical connectivity Projects with Trade and Investment Opportunities (2) Thailand-Malaysia Halal Industry Development and Cooperation (3) Talk with Thai Food Importers and Exporters, and (4) Talk with Thai Biz in Malaysia, which were attended by the key Thai-Malaysian actors from the public and private sectors in the respective areas. The business matching was attended by 10 Thai SMEs in the food and halal sectors from Thailand’s 4 southern provinces (Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkla), with support from The Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), Thailand.

 

The event was successful and attended by over 200 participants on site, whereby over 2,000 participants in total attended the LIVE broadcasting during the opening and the Panel Session 4. It is one of the Embassy’s continuous initiatives in 2024 to enhance Thailand-Malaysia cross border connectivity, whereby in 2023 the Embassy brought a Thai delegation from the public and private sectors to visit Malaysia’s NCER (Norther Corridor Economic Region) in Penang, Kedah and Perlis, including (1) Perlis Inland Port (PIP) in Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA) (2) Kedah Rubber City (KRC), as well as the new road alignment linking new CIQ Sadao in Songkla province, Thailand - ICQS Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, Malaysia.