Thailand is aiming to enhance trade and investment with the United Kingdom, said deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul on Friday following a meeting between high-level officials from both nations in London.
She said that Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met British Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston to discuss such matters at the UK's Department of International Trade on Thursday.
Ms Traisuree said that the UK is Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, and Mr Anutin expressed during the meeting that Thailand aims to increase export and import values between the two countries.
During the meeting, Mr Anutin presented a trade implementation plan to Mr Huddleston that the two countries could use to further encourage bilateral trade in agriculture, financial services, healthcare and digital business.
Ms Traisuree said that Mr Anutin also highlighted the growth of Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor and encouraged UK investors to consider three potential industries -- healthcare and medicine, 5G-related technology and the Bio-Circular-Green industry.
Mr Anutin also asked the UK to support Thailand to be the host for the next Specialised Expo under the theme of Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity. The vote for who will host the expo will take place at the Bureau International des Expositions's General Assembly in June at its Paris headquarters, said Rachada Dhnadirek, another deputy spokeswoman.
In London, Mr Anutin also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Genomics Cooperation between Thailand's Health Systems Research Institute and the UK's Department of Health and Social Care.
Mr Anutin said this marks the start of medical cooperation on genomics between the two countries with the aim of researching pharmacogenomics and rare diseases, according to Ms Rachada.
"Bilateral cooperation will lead to solutions for emerging health challenges with the application of genomic diagnostics. Also, the agreement will support genomic services in Thailand as the country strives to become the world's leading medical hub," she added.
