‘A prosperous and promising future’ for Saudi-Thai relations
Following Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit, Kingdom’s ambassador says investment opportunities are many in light of Saudi Vision 2030 and Thailand’s own development priorities
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Bangkok last week has opened a new chapter in Saudi-Thai ties in which officials see a promising future for both kingdoms.
Relations between Saudi
Arabia and Thailand were officially restored in January this year, during Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha’s trip to Riyadh, when the two countries agreed to appoint ambassadors to each other’s nations for the first time in over three decades.
The crown prince arrived in Bangkok as a guest of honor at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit hosted by Thailand on Nov. 18-19 and became the first Saudi official to make such a trip. “It was the first visit at the level of the Kingdom’s leadership since the establishment of relations between the two countries in 1957,” Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Suhaibani, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Thailand, told Arab News.
“It will move relations between the two countries to broader horizons and a prosperous and promising future.
“It will also contribute to accelerating steps that will enhance bilateral, economic and trade relations between the two countries by exploring potential investment opportunities in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the development priorities of Thailand.” The crown prince’s meetings with the Thai leadership have yielded numerous memorandums on energy, investment, tourism, anticorruption efforts and the normalization of diplomatic relations.
When the crown prince arrived in Bangkok, he was officially received by the country’s top leadership and royal family and unofficially by many others, especially from the younger generation, who took to social media to welcome him and set up online fan clubs.
In welcome messages, many Thais wrote it was an “honor” for them to see the Saudi crown prince in their country.
Photos and videos from the visit went viral and made the rounds with captions such as “Warm welcome, Prince,” “This is what people in the country (Thailand) want,” “Happy: Thai-Saudi relations are very close after 32 years,” “Long live MBS.”
“The relations now seem to be on the right track and will grow stronger and more comprehensive in the coming period,” Al-Suhaibani told Arab News. “The Saudi embassy will focus on implementing and following up on the agreements and memoranda of understanding that were signed during this historic visit.”
Tanee Sangrat, directorgeneral of information at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and soon to be Thailand’s ambassador to the US, told Arab News that the visit was “closely watched and followed by the Thai people in Thailand and around the world.”
He said: “We look to Saudi Arabia as a country that has great potential. The leaders of Saudi Arabia are very well respected by our people.
“I think Thai people are looking for — and expecting — more cooperation with Saudi Arabia.” With the restoration of ties with Saudi Arabia, Thailand has found not only a powerful new partner in navigating volatile energy markets and energy transition, but also, as many have said, a “gateway” to the Middle East, where Thailand’s presence is not very strong.
The restored relationship would give Thai exporters and investors greater access to opportunities in the Gulf and beyond.
“This is a big, big issue for Thailand. Saudi Arabia is a critical partner in the Middle East,” Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Bangkok-based Institute of Security and International Studies, told Arab News.
“That is a gateway for Thailand to re-engage and re-enter Middle East markets. Without the Saudi Arabia relationship, a lot of doors were closed. Now, more doors will be opened.”
Suppalerk Aramkitphotha, a business-development professional, saw the crown prince’s visit as a “great opportunity.”
“We are very glad that we have this opportunity,” he said, referring to the business prospects between Thailand and the Middle East that would now be facilitated. Jirayut Srupsrisopa, founder of the first Thai fintech startup to notch up a valuation of more than $1 billion, said he was glad that the Saudi crown prince had visited Thailand and that new bridges had been built.
“Now we can do so much more between Thailand and Saudi Arabia. We can work with Saudis for the future of energy, the future of green hydrogen or future growth in other aspects like the digital economy,” he told Arab News, adding that there would also be opportunities in other fields including, and especially, medical tourism. Thailand, where healthcare services are well developed but easily affordable, already has agreements with countries such as Kuwait and Qatar for receiving patients. A similar deal with Saudi Arabia is likely to be a part of the two countries’ relations going forward.
“We are famous for medical tourism,” Jirayut said. “Everyone can come here, have a nice holiday — nice beaches, nice mountains, nice hotels, nice services. And they can get their teeth done.
They can recover. They can have a health checkup here at a fraction of the cost elsewhere.”
But there is more to the renewed ties than business opportunities. Referring to the potential role that culture can play in cementing the re-established Saudi-Thai relationship, Ambassador Al-Suhaibani said: “There are many similarities between the two countries, particularly in hospitality, generosity, friendliness and, most importantly, the richness of our cultures.
“This will encourage us to strengthen relationships and communication between our people, as well as to promote constructive dialogue in many aspects of social, cultural and religious (life).”
This kind of exchange is what many Thais have waited for for a long time.
Voralak Tulaphorn, a marketing professional, said a Saudi presence is something that has long been missing from the multicultural landscape of Thailand.
“Saudi Arabia and (Thailand) actually have rich cultures, and with rich cultures it would be nice to have exchanges in everything from food and nature to fashion and handicrafts.”
For her, what holds the greatest promise as a means of bringing Thais and Saudis together is an appreciation of each other’s cuisines. Food is a good way to win hearts and spread cultural influence, she suggested.
“I think people love Thai street food,” Voralak told Arab News, adding that she hoped Saudi restaurants would soon start emerging in Bangkok. “We would love to taste Saudi Arabian food too.”