On 28 March 2018, Mr. Narong Boonsatheanwong, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Thai Embassy, together with Mr. Pakainay Leng-Ee, Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs, and Miss Walikar Apayasiri, Counsellor for Commercial Affairs, received and briefed a business delegation of 25 Thai SMEs, which were surveying investment opportunities in Myanmar with Me-Idea Studio’s “SME See ASEAN” TV program. Mr. Narong emphasized that the Royal Thai Government prioritizes relations with neighbouring countries to promote peaceful borders, joint development, and the exchange of peoples. He spoke of the government’s policy to open more border checkpoints with the aim to facilitate Thai companies and Thai investors in doing business in Myanmar. For example, Thailand and Myanmar are cooperating on the development of the Dawei Special Economic Zone (DSEZ), which is part of the Southern Economic Corridor. The Myanmar Parliament recently approved for the Myanmar Government to accept a loan from the Thai Government, to construct the two lane road from the DSEZ to the Thai-Myanmar border at the permanent border checkpoint Phu Nam Rom, Kanchanaburi Province, and Htee Kee. In addition, he invited Thai SMEs to not only invest in Myanmar, but to also implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in their area of investment. The Office of Commercial Affairs briefed the delegation on Myanmar’s economic reforms, sectors with high investment potential, such as consumer products, lifestyle products, and services, as well as investment opportunities, and related trade laws of Myanmar.

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