A high-level Thailand trade delegation, led by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, will make its way to South Africa from September 18 to 22 to build trade links between the two countries.
The delegation will comprise representatives of leading Thai firms operating in the construction, food and beverage, automotive parts, homeware and machinery sectors, with meetings set with potential business partners in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
“As strategic economic development hubs in their respective regions, Thailand and South Africa have a great deal to offer each other in terms of bilateral trade and investment, and serve as mutual gateways to new trade regions,” said Minister of the Office of Commercial Affairs Royal Thai Embassy Aphirak Paepuang.
Thailand and South Africa enjoy an upward trade growth curve, with Thailand South Africa’s ninth-largest trading partner and South Africa Thailand’s largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.
In 2016, bilateral trade reached R36-billion, a significant increase on the R31-billion in 2015, and delivered double-digit growth each year.
Building on previous successful trade missions to South Africa, the DTIP, and the Royal Thai Embassy, Office of Commercial Affairs in Pretoria will host business-to-business meetings between leading Thai manufacturers and exporters and South African importers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
Among Thailand’s top food, beverage and homeware manufacturers scheduled to step onto South Africa soil are Bangsue Chia Meng Rice Mill, Boonrawd Trading International, Phootawan Thai Dried Fruit, Siam Golden Rice, SN Foods and Marketing, The Cool Manufacturing and NV Aranyik.
The companies plan to showcase a range of products such as quality dried fruit, rice and rice products, teas and coffee products, frozen fish products and squid, seaweed snacks and rice crackers, cutlery and hollowware and specialised supermarket and catering fridges and display coolers.
Automotive parts and accessories producers Toyota Tsusho, TPN Global Business and Unicom Auto Parts will showcase a range of automotive parts and accessories; while construction materials firm Panel Plus will highlight its range of melamine faced panels, particle boards and medium density fibreboard products.