On 29 May 2025, H.E. Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, as the representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with H.E. Miss Nipa Nirannoot, Consul-General of Thailand to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, participated in the event “Doing Business with Thailand” held during the visit to Thailand by H.E. Mr. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, accompanied by senior executives and a business delegation representing 20 companies across 10 sectors, from 28 - 30 May 2025, under the framework of the 2025 New Horizons Roadshow.

 

The event was held at Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok and was attended by over 500 Thai and Dubai-based businesspersons and media representatives. During the event, 288 business matching sessions took place between private sector representatives from both sides.

 

Prior to the official opening, the Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs held a high-level meeting with the President of Dubai Chambers, joined by notable participants from both Thailand and the UAE, including H.E. Mr. Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Aldhaheri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Thailand; H.E. the Consul-General of Thailand to Dubai; Dr. Poj Aramwattananont, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Pornvit Sila-on, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion; and Ms. Thanita Sirisup, Investment Advisor at the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI).

 

During the opening ceremony, the Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a special remarks, emphasizing the significance of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, which mark their 50th anniversary this year. He highlighted that the visit of Dubai Chambers' delegation, as well as the official launch of the Dubai International Chambers Office in Bangkok, serves as a meaningful celebration of this milestone particularly in the economic relations. Thailand is currently the UAE’s number one trading partner in ASEAN, while the UAE is Thailand’s largest trading partner in the Middle East, with bilateral trade valued at over 20 billion USD and projected to reach 30 billion USD in the near future. Notably, non-oil trade has grown by 9%, and in the past two years, the UAE has invested in 19 new projects in Thailand, valued at more than 90 million USD, including DAMAC Group’s data center and Cleanmax’s solar energy project which both are strategic investments that contribute to a sustainable economic future.

 

The Secretary also underscored the vast potential for economic cooperation between Thailand and the UAE, particularly with Dubai, in key areas including:

- Thailand’s role as a regional logistics hub under the Landbridge project;

- Future-oriented investment opportunities through the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model, spanning smart agriculture, eco-friendly manufacturing, bioplastics, medical innovation, digital solutions, and sustainable tourism;

- Thailand’s position as a digital hub of ASEAN, which could complement the UAE’s ambition to become the digital center of the Middle East.

 

He emphasized that advancing these areas will require stronger private sector collaboration, for which a Joint Business Council has been officially established. Plans are also underway to revitalize the Thai Business Council in Dubai, which will serve as an important platform to transform this shared vision into concrete outcomes.

 

In closing, the Secretary assured the Dubai Chambers delegation that Thailand is open for business, which is not only as a market but also as a destination for innovation, growth, and long-term partnership. He invited all sectors to work together to elevate the Thailand–UAE relationship over the next 50 years.

 

Additionally, the Secretary and the Consul-General joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the Dubai International Chambers Office in Thailand, the 36th office globally and the 3rd in ASEAN, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of Dubai Chambers across major business cities worldwide.

 

The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Dubai, as one of the supporters of the event, would like to express its sincere appreciation to all stakeholders involved and congratulates Dubai Chambers’ New Horizons delegation on the success of their visit to Thailand.