Kathmandu, April 3 – Nepal and Thailand signed eight separate accords on Wednesday as part of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s one-day official trip to the Southeast Asian country prior to the sixth Bimstec summit scheduled to commence in Bangkok on Thursday. The event aims at fostering multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation around the Bay of Bengal region.
At their meeting, which aligned with the 66th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Thailand, Prime Minister Oli and his Thai counterpart, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, addressed various topics such as enhancing mutual relations; boosting commerce and investment in sectors like travel, farming, natural product processing, and healthcare; and attracting additional business ventures from Thailand into Nepal.
“The emphasis was placed on enhancing the simplicity of conducting business, decreasing trade obstacles, and recognizing our respective comparative strengths,” stated the Thai Prime Minister at the luncheon gathering with Oli.
Considering our ability to surpass the present $40 million in trade volume, such initiatives could enhance trade and investment, thus motivating more Thai enterprises to confidently venture into and invest within Nepal’s marketplace.
Shinawatra emphasized that both parties understand the significance of fostering connections among citizens via cultural and tourism initiatives. She stated, “It’s encouraging to see an upward trend in tourist arrivals from each country, and we intend to boost this synergy even more, focusing specifically on areas like wellness and health-centric travel or launching collaborative tourism promotions.” Furthermore, she highlighted how entities within Thailand’s private sector—such as hotels, hospitals, and airlines—are contributing significantly to Nepal’s services and tourism sectors.
This marks the first bilateral official trip to Thailand by a Nepalese Prime Minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Thailand 65 years ago.
During the discussions, both prime ministers showed contentment with how well the two countries’ relationship was progressing and committed to boosting these relationships even more for shared advantages. The embassy emphasized the significance of increasing collaboration in sectors like commerce, travel, investments, infrastructure development, and cultural exchanges. Furthermore, they concurred on amplifying joint efforts within regional and global frameworks beyond just their bilateral connection.
Oli and Shinawatra also talked about working together in the field of agriculture, with Thailand proposing to share its knowledge in agricultural processing and technological advancements with Nepal. They likewise signed Memorandums of Understanding to formalize this collaboration.
Both parties recognized significant potential for promoting Buddhist tourism. Additionally, Thailand offered various scholarships and training positions to Nepal in sectors such as public health, human resources, hospitality, agriculture, and numerous others.
At a shared press conference in Bangkok after his meeting with Shinawatra, Oli voiced optimism that the visit would boost collaboration in areas such as culture, tourism, education, energy, and more. He mentioned that talks focused on broadening the 65-year-old diplomatic relationship and fostering stronger connections between citizens.
Oli likewise showed confidence that Thailand’s investments in Nepal’s tourism industry, encompassing hotels and air transportation, will receive increased attention in the near future.
Thailand and Nepal have strong connections in agriculture, commerce, tourism, and cultural exchange,” Oli stated. “I encourage Thai businesses to invest in our country.
He stated, “Nepal and Thailand share robust trade and tourism ties, and we will now join forces on global matters such as climate change.”
Oli additionally mentioned that he extended an invitation to Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra to tour Nepal and expressed his belief that the visit would occur shortly.
Previously, Jirayu Houngsub, the spokesperson for the Thai government, mentioned that the Nepalese Prime Minister’s official visit would serve as an excellent chance for enhancing bilateral ties and collaboration across multiple sectors between Thailand and Nepal. These key areas include trade and investments, agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and services.
“The two leaders will additionally share their perspectives on global issues like climate change and explore opportunities for collaboration at a multinational level,” he stated during a press conference held in Bangkok.
Following the high-level discussions between Oli and Shinawatra, Nepal and Thailand inked eight accords and memorandums of understanding. The pact concerning tourism collaboration was signed by Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and Thailand’s Minister for Tourism and Sports Rosawang Thienthong.
At the same time, Deuba and Thailand’s Minister of Culture Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosikol inked a pact for cultural collaboration aimed at bolstering cultural relations between their nations.
The two accords were ratified at the governmental level. Additionally, during this visit, both countries’ private sectors and educational institutions inked six separate agreements. These included an accord fostering academic ties between Kathmandu University from Nepal and Siam University in Thailand aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts in education. Another agreement was made between the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh and Mahidol University’s Ramathibodi Hospital in Thailand, focusing on joint initiatives in providing eye care services.
At the same time, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) entered into an MoU with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade. This move aimed at boosting trade ties, building upon the accord reached earlier between the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), which focused on fostering investment prospects.
An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Council of Thailand to cooperate in areas such as trade, tourism, and civil aviation. Additionally, Nepal’s Janata Agro and Forestry entered into an agreement with Thailand’s Kasetsart University aimed at enhancing food production via biotechnology. Janata Agro and Forestry is a group comprising multiple investors actively involved in Nepal’s agricultural industry.
At the combined press event, the Prime Minister of Thailand highlighted the significance of connectivity, stating that it is crucial for fostering economic development.
We both celebrated the part played by Thai Airways in bringing our people closer with increased services, restarting and initiating new non-stop routes from Bangkok to Kathmandu, as well as extending service to Lumbini,” she stated. “Beyond our bilateral cooperation, I genuinely appreciate Nepal’s support during Thailand’s leadership of Bimstec. By maintaining unity amongst Bimstec members, we aim to guarantee that this organization stays significant and pertinent.
In the afternoon, Vitidnan Rojanaphanich, the leader of the Thai Nepal Friendship Association (TNFA)—who was also the first person from Thailand to reach the summit of Mount Everest—contacted Prime Minister Oli.
On Thursday, Oli plans to have a breakfast meeting with leading Thai and Nepali entrepreneurs, speak at an event organized by the Asian Institute of Technology, and engage in one-on-one discussions with Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, who serves as the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP—the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
On the same day, Oli is scheduled to conduct separate talks with Bhutan’s Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Myanmar’s State Administration Council Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. The latter assumed the role of prime minister in August 2021 after appointing himself to the position.
Later tonight, Oli is set to participate in an official dinner organized by the Thai Prime Minister to honor the leaders from Bimstec countries.
On Friday, the prime minister will take part in the inaugural session of the sixth Bimstec summit. They will also observe the signing of the Bimstec agreement for maritime transport cooperation and deliver an opening speech following remarks by the Bimstec chairperson. The event will continue with approval of the agenda, succeeded by individual addresses from leaders representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Subsequently, Oli will participate in an event where the declaration for the sixth Bimstec summit will be adopted. Additionally, the prime minister is scheduled to join a luncheon hosted exclusively for leaders and their delegations during the summit. In the evening, Oli plans to engage in a bilateral discussion with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi before proceeding to visit Nepal’s embassy located in Thailand.
