On 31 January 2012, Ambassador / Head of Thai Mission to the European Union (EU) accompanied by Ms. Pimchanok Vonkhorporn, Commercial Minister, Ms. Phantipha Iamsudha, Minister Counsellor ? EU Section, and Mr. Supark Prongthura, Counsellor, attended the Brussels launch of the EU-ASEAN Business Center in Thailand (EABC). They were welcomed by Mr. Arnaldo ABRUZZINI, Secretary-General EUROCHAMBRES and Board Member of EABC, and Mr. Rolf-Dieter DANIEL, President of EABC.
The Ambassador gave opening remarks, highlighting that the decision to establish EABC in Thailand clearly demonstrates the confidence of EU private sector in Thailand?s economic potentials, with an expected rebound in term of economic growth rate for 2012 at 4-5% after the flooding last year, including taking advantages of Thailand as a European base for further expanding trade and investment opportunities in the huge ASEAN market of nearly 600 million people. The EABC will therefore be instrumental in promoting and expanding closer cooperation, partnership, trade and investment opportunities not only between EU and Thai business entities, but also the ASEAN private sector especially SMEs. In addition, another Thai guest speaker, Mr. Chanin Khaochan, Director of Office of Thailand Board of Investment in Frankfurt, also gave brief presentation on investment opportunities in Thailand to the audience.
The EABC receives funding support from the European Commission of about 2 million Euro and it is a trade cooperation organization for EU business entities in Thailand and ASEAN region. The main objective of the EABC is to promote and increase trade, services and investment of European companies and businesses in Thailand as well as between Thailand and the EU as a whole. The EABC also aims to promote Thailand as a hub to advance business networking, partnership and market access for trade in goods, services and investment both in Thailand and the rest of the region.
