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Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi. /CFM-FILE.

Kenya

Thailand fosters closer trade ties with Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 18 – The government of Thailand has initiated a programme to promote closer business ties with local and regional exporters.

The Commercial Attaché at the Thai embassy in Nairobi Suebsak Dangboonrueng said Kenya has been selected to act as a gateway to the rest of the region.

“The Thai government is trying to initiate activities such as organising trade shows or business-to-business meetings with countries in the region to have them explore all the trade investments opportunities,” Mr Dangboonrueng affirmed.

He added that the Thai government was in talks with Kenyan authorities to provide low cost housing to Kenyans.

“We will be focusing on the construction sector, because the Thai are good at building low cost houses and we are trying to partner with the Kenyan Government to be our partners to help alleviate the housing deficit in the country,” he declared.

Thailand’s Ambassador to Kenya Kosit Chatpaiboon said Kenya was still new to the Thai people. He further added that there was a need to put in place mechanisms that will promote trade and investment opportunities.

“A bilateral agreement on investment and on avoidance of double taxation on imported goods should be reached following the joint committee meeting held in June last year between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai government; it was agreed that collaboration between the two countries is key to encourage trade,” Mr Chatpaiboon stated.

Thai-Kenya trade has continued to grow steadily at around 11 percent annually. During the first half of 2011, the two countries recorded Sh7.7 billion worth of bilateral trade, representing a 32.4 percent increase from the same period last year.

The embassy says Thai businesses are willing to export auto parts, textiles, plastics, sugar and rice to the country.

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He was speaking during the opening of the 3rd Thailand Trade show at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

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