JETRO Topics
Japan-China Workshop on Business Cooperation in Thailand held in Bangkok
April 2019
On April 2, JETRO and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) jointly convened the Japan-China Workshop on Business Cooperation in Thailand under the auspices of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office of Thailand. Based on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concluded between the CCPIT and JETRO at the first Japan-China Forum on Third Country Business Cooperation held in Beijing last October, this was the first workshop held in a third country. It was joined by approximately 400 people from government and business circles of Thailand, China and Japan, including the following: Masaki Ishikawa, Director General of the Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand; Lyu Jian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Thailand; Dr. Kanit Sangsubhan, Secretary-General, Eastern Economic Corridor Office in Thailand; and Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
In his opening remarks, Director-General Ishikawa of METI stressed the importance of cooperation between companies from multiple countries such as China, Thailand and Japan in responding to the tremendous demand for infrastructure within Asia, while underscoring the need to establish "win-win-win" relationships which also benefit third countries in line with international standards of openness, transparency, economic efficiency and financial stability.
Following him, Yu Haiyan, Deputy Director General of the Department of Development Research at the CCPIT, introduced efforts aimed at promoting business cooperation in third countries, such as through the dispatch of a business mission to Thailand last year and the conclusion of the MOU with JETRO on the occasion of last October’s forum. In order to push cooperation in the future, she also made the following three proposals: 1) improving the environment for cooperation, 2) facilitating information exchange and 3) strengthening the role of trade promotion organizations.
Approximately 400 participants
Opening remarks by Director-General Ishikawa of METI
Opening remarks by Deputy Director General Yu of CCPIT
Photo session
Presentation by President Mitsumata of JETRO Bangkok
The workshop was held with the purpose of forming concrete examples of business between China and Japan in the three business fields of transportation and logistics, energy and environment, and smart city development.
In the morning session, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China explained their respective financial support programs and gave tips on starting business in Thailand, while JETRO Bangkok elaborated on the potential and significance in working together with Chinese parties in Thailand in the three fields, followed by presentations by companies active in each area.
In the afternoon, a breakout session consisting of booths divided by each field was held, where pitch presentations by companies and lively business talks were seen.
Presentation on smart city development
Business talks in transportation and logistics
JETRO plans to hold similar events in other regions based on the aim outlined in the MOU with the CCPIT.
