Italy talks business with PM

New envoy discusses EEC investment

The new Italian ambassador to Thailand yesterday told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of Italy’s interest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Italy strongly believes in Thailand’s capacity to expand trade and investment in several areas, especially ones included in the EEC scheme, envoy Paolo Dionisi told the PM in their first meeting.

Italian businesses are interested in investing in industries, such as the production of motorcycles in Thailand, Mr Dionisi said.

He said some talks have already been conducted with the Board of Investment of Thailand regarding a BOI proposal to stage a new roadshow of Thai business sectors in Europe in March.

Gen Prayut said the Thai government was glad to learn further about potential trade and investment opportunities. It would fully support such opportunities as well as any other trade and investment cooperation projects between the two countries, he said.

Mr Dionisi spoke of education cooperation, with the Italian embassy in Bangkok agreeing to support Thai students and offering them scholarships in more academic disciplines.

Cooperation in the development of science and technology infrastructure between the two countries was also covered in the meeting in Gen Prayut’s office.

Gen Prayut said the Thai government is committed to maintaining the existing cooperation between Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) and the Italian Space Agency in the area of space and satellite technology development. As part of this, cooperation efforts would also continue between the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences and Italy’s science and medical technology agencies, he added.

In security cooperation, Mr Dionisi said, both sides agreed to work closely together on the development of the curriculum of the Command and General Staff College and Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.

He added that this cooperation also includes the development of new training courses for the Royal Thai Police.

Gen Prayut also asked Mr Dionisi to relay his congratulations to Italy’s first female prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, while Mr Dionisi said the Italian prime minister had sent her good wishes to Gen Prayut and the Thai government. Mr Dionisi also expressed Ms Meloni’s intention to visit Thailand for the first time.