By Peter Alagos
Business Reporter

The Royal Thai Embassy in Doha is planning to bring top companies of the country for a trade fair in Qatar, to enhance trade and economic relations between the two countries, Ambassador Piroon Laismit has said.
Laismit said the embassy will seek the assistance of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) and a Qatari event organiser for the staging of the trade fair next year in Doha.
“We envision the trade fair as a big-scale event and that is why need to co-ordinate with the MEC in order for us to showcase the best that Thailand could offer,” the ambassador told Gulf Times.
He said the trade fair will feature products of Thailand’s leading companies specialising in the fields of jewellery, furniture, wood carving, food, agriculture and landscaping among others, as well as business matching and networking sessions.
“Since the trade fair is still in the early planning stages, we are identifying target areas that will appeal to the Qatari business community,” said Laismit, who noted that most Thai exports to Qatar are mostly food commodities.
According to the envoy, the Thai embassy has attempted to bring its local businesses to Qatar but he explained that most companies are not familiar with the investment opportunities available in the country.
“Among the challenges the embassy has identified when we meet up with local companies in Thailand is that most of them are unaware of the business opportunities in Qatar and how to do business here.
Another challenge, according to Laismit, is the lack of incentives for Thai workers to live abroad such as higher salaries and opportunities to relocate with their families.”
The ambassador stressed that Qatar and Thailand should send more trade delegations to facilitate knowledge exchange, networking and other strategies that would enhance investment opportunities.
“We encourage more Thai companies to explore opportunities in Qatar because the country’s modernisation strategy is still in its younger stages, and Thailand would like to take part in it. And if Qataris are interested in bringing their businesses to Thailand, they are most welcome,” said the envoy, who added that Qataris can also invest in Thailand’s real estate market.
He said there are 4,000 Thais working in Qatar, around 3,000 of whom are technicians and engineers involved in a variety of infrastructure projects while the others are deployed in the restaurant, spa and wellness sectors. He said Thais are known for their skills in the repair and maintenance of air-conditioners, electronics and automobiles. “Since Qatar is experiencing a construction boom in almost all sectors, Thailand can also contribute in terms of landscaping work and export of trees,” Laismit noted.